Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is making headlines today after publicly expressing frustration over what he called a “disrespectful and misleading” statistical assessment made by league analysts and some sports media outlets.
The star defenseman, coming off a career-best season with the Canucks, didn’t hold back during a post-practice media availability when asked about a recent NHL report that downplayed his defensive impact compared to other elite defensemen across the league.
I’m so disappointed and honestly discouraged,” Hughes said. “You put in everything on both ends of the ice and then you see certain people reduce it all down to one stat that doesn’t reflect what really happens out there.”
The controversy centers around advanced analytics that suggested Hughes’ defensive zone impact was “average” compared to top-tier defensemen like Cale Makar and Adam Fox. The specific stat, known as expected goals against while on ice (xGA), ranked Hughes lower than expected, despite his strong plus-minus, shot suppression numbers, and elite puck transition metrics. Hughes argued that the stat lacks important context, including quality of teammates, minutes logged against top lines, and the Canucks’ overall system. People throw numbers around without understanding what goes into them,” he continued. “I play nearly 26 minutes a night, often against the best players in the world, and still lead our team on both ends. I respect analytics, but some of these models don’t tell the whole truth.” Fans and analysts have quickly taken sides. While some agree with Hughes and defend his all-around play, others insist the numbers don’t lie suggesting his defensive metrics still lag behind his offensive prowess.
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was quick to back his captain. Quinn is our engine,” Tocchet said. “He quarterbacks everything, plays in all situations, and does more defensively than people see on the surface. Stats are useful, but they don’t measure leadership or the plays that prevent goals before they even happen.”
Despite the frustration, Hughes emphasized that his focus remains on helping the Canucks build on their deep playoff run from last season. Still, his statement serves as a broader commentary on the growing tension between traditional hockey analysis and the rise of advanced metrics in player evaluation.
Whether this sparks a larger league-wide conversation on stat transparency and context remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: Quinn Hughes is making sure his voice is heard, both on and off the ice.
