Insider Rick Dhaliwal reveals what really pushed Quinn Hughes to leave Vancouver
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rick Dhaliwal says Quinn Hughes leaving Vancouver had nothing to do with any so-called American trend and everything to do with wanting to win.
The idea that Hughes wanted out of Vancouver because he wanted to play in the United States has been floating around for a while, especially with the wave of Olympic gold medalists who have pushed for trades this offseason.
Brady Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck both made headlines for wanting new homes after Milan, and plenty of fans connected the dots back to Hughes leaving the Canucks last December.
Dhaliwal is not buying that connection at all.
Speaking on Oilers Now, Dhaliwal made it clear that Hughes was simply exhausted by everything surrounding the Canucks organization at the time, not by playing north of the border.
"Quinn Hughes did not leave [Vancouver] and asked for a trade because it was an American thing and he's doing what these Americans are doing off that Olympic team; Hughes wanted to win, he was tired of the chaos, he was tired of the circus."
- Rick Dhaliwal
- Rick Dhaliwal
Why the winning angle makes sense
Hughes went from a franchise dealing with constant noise to a Minnesota Wild team that gave him a fresh slate, and it did not take long for him to look like a different player.
He capped the season by helping Team USA capture Olympic gold in Milan, which only added fuel to the narrative Dhaliwal is now trying to put out.
Vancouver president Jim Rutherford has previously acknowledged that a new deal with Hughes looked highly unlikely, and that being closer to his brothers factored into the move as well.
None of that points to a player chasing an American market on principle.
What this means going forward
With Tkachuk, Hellebuyck and Hughes all pushing for change after golden runs with Team USA, the league will keep hearing theories about why.
Dhaliwal's version puts the focus squarely on winning, chaos and burnout rather than borders.
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