Canucks defenceman Hughes ‘feeling good,’ expected to make NHL debut Thursday

That could change on Thursday when the Canucks host the L.A. Kings.

Coach Travis Green said on Wednesday that he hadn’t checked in with the team’s medical staff but hopes Hughes will be cleared to play.

Healing has taken longer than Hughes thought it would but he feels like he’s “pretty much” back to 100 per cent.

“I feel good so whenever they tell me I’m playing, I’m going to play,” he said.

Hughes has had company during his recovery. Fellow Canucks defencemen Ben Hutton and Chris Tanev have been nursing their own injuries.

Hutton said Wednesday that he’s ready to get back in the lineup as soon as the team’s medical staff give their OK.

Sitting on the sidelines with a fractured foot for more than three weeks has been “brutal,” the 25-year-old said.

“It’s very frustrating, especially at that point in the season,” he said. “I’m watching the games, sometimes swearing at the pillow and stuff like that, wanting to be out there.”

Time off the ice gave Hutton a chance to get to know Hughes. The newbie was quiet and shy at first, he said, but has since opened up and now asks a lot of questions.

When he gets in a game, fans will be impressed, Hutton said.

“He’s a young kid but he’s pretty mature at the same time. I feel like he’s going to be able to handle it well,” he said. “He’s going to go out there and ooh and aah a couple of people. He’s going to be confident, he’s going to go out there and make his plays. So I’m excited to see him play.”

In his first full Canucks practice on Wednesday, Green paired the five-foot-10, 170-pound Hughes with Luke Schenn, a six-foot-two, 221-pound d-man who’s logged more than 700 NHL games.

The set up simply made sense, the coach said, explaining that he likes his other defensive pairings and wants the left-handed Hughes playing with a righty.

Schenn may also have some wisdom to share, Green added.

“I think he’ll be a good guy to talk to on the bench. I think just calming nerves. He’s not going to model his game after Schenner, they’re opposites,” he said. “But he’ll be able to give him some good advice.”

A former fifth-overall Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, Schenn knows what’s it’s like to be a young defenceman surrounded by big expectations.

He jumped straight to the NHL in 2008, with his debut coming on opening night in Detroit — the same night the Red Wings were hoisting their Stanley Cup banner.

“I think my first shift was against (Chris) Osgood, (Brian) Rafalski, (Nicklas) Lidstrom, (Pavel) Datsyuk, (Henrik) Zetterberg and (Tomas) Holmstrom,” Schenn said. “So that was a bit of a ‘What am I doing out here?’ moment. And you try to hurry off to the bench as quick as you can when you see those guys.”

Every player remembers their first game and Hughes will be no different, the 29-year-old added.

“It’s a moment you’ve been dreaming of your entire life and you’ve just got to enjoy it, don’t over think it,” he said. “Obviously there’s going to be some nerves and butterflies, but he’ll be fine. He’ll settle right in. Obviously he’s a guy who plays with a ton of confidence so he’ll be great and I’m looking forward to it.”

Hughes grew up in Toronto and remembers watching an 18-year-old Schenn play for the Leafs.

“He definitely knows what he’s talking about,” Hughes said. “When you’ve got an experienced vet behind you like him, it’s pretty easy. I’m just going to follow his lead. I’m excited.”

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Canucks defenceman Hughes ‘feeling good,’ expected to make NHL debut Thursday

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