“Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson Are Ready to Lead the Vancouver Canucks Into the Future”

With former captain Bo Horvat on greener pastures, reigning Vancouver Canucks stars Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson are striving to become leaders as the franchise takes a new direction.

Both players will wear ‘A’ from now on and they don’t want to take the responsibility lightly.

“I’ve never been the loudest guy,” Hughes told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre. “I always have respect for guys who have been in the league a lot longer than me and who have seen so much more. But at the same time, me and Petey are good players and we have to do these things or the team’s. I’m just going to stay the way I am. I have a feeling we have to do this.

“But myself and (General Manager) Patrik (Allvin) have previously spoken about trying to develop ourselves as individuals and as players and teammates and leaders within the group and improving the group from within. I think that’s me and Petey’s job and to keep making ourselves better in every aspect of our lives.”

Horvat was named captain of the Canucks in 2019. He was loaned out to the New York Islanders last week and subsequently signed an eight-year extension.

At All-Star Weekend, Horvat said if he could choose Vancouver’s next captain, Pettersson would be his replacement.

“I think me and Quinn want more,” Pettersson said. “Initially we’re concentrating on hockey and we’re playing well, but of course it’s good to develop into a leader. Lead by example or set a standard, show how it should be done.”

The Canucks drafted Pettersson (fifth overall) and Hughes (seventh overall) in 2017 and 2018. The two have been cornerstones ever since, but Vancouver has only made the playoffs once during their tenure.

Now that Horvat is gone, Pettersson and Hughes are the Canucks’ top two scorers this season with 58 and 45 points, respectively.

Source: www.thescore.com