Higher in Bunches: Quinn Hughes’ multi-point efforts put him on tempo to greatest period’s different rookie blueliners

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Together with his sixth multi-point night time of the season, Quinn Hughes is on tempo for a historic season by a rookie defenseman, however he has loads of work to do to catch the 5 rookie blueliners who’ve had probably the most multi-point nights within the present period.Zach Aston-Reese and Quinn Hughes|Joe Sargent/NHLI through Getty ImagesAnother season, one other Vancouver Canuck as one of many league’s high rookies.
After Brock Boeser’s practically unstoppable efficiency in 2017-18 and Elias Pettersson’s Calder Trophy-winning manufacturing final season, Quinn Hughes has taken up the mantle as one of many league’s high freshmen and he’s giving the Calder race the whole lot he has. Wednesday night time, Hughes registered his 19th, 20th and 21st factors, and in doing so, he and Cale Makar grew to become the primary pair of defensemen to be the primary of their rookie class to succeed in the 20-point plateau. That’s noteworthy contemplating Kaapo Kakko and Jack Hughes had been thought-about to be on the head of this group of freshmen.
Most spectacular about Hughes’ scoring is the way in which during which he’s piled up factors. His three-assist night time in a whirlwind Eight-6 defeat by the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins made him the primary Canucks rookie blueliner to register a trio of three-point outings. Loopy to suppose that he’s achieved so in simply two months, too. However crazier but is that if he retains it up, Hughes may very well be chasing down a little bit of post-lockout-era historical past.
For the reason that lockout in 2004-05, 20 rookie defensemen have recorded seven or extra multi-point performances in a single season. Following Wednesday’s efficiency, Hughes has now managed two or extra factors in six of his 25 video games. And whereas Mark Howe (1970-80) and Larry Murphy (1980-81) are the one first-year NHL defensemen previously 40 years to have greater than 20 multi-point contests in a season, not a single rookie rearguard has managed to exceed 15 within the post-lockout period. Nevertheless, Hughes has that mark in his sights, a minimum of given his present tempo.
So, with 57 video games remaining within the Canucks’ season, what number of extra multi-point outings will Hughes must stake his declare because the rookie blueliner who’s the very best at scoring in bunches? Right here’s a take a look at the five-best multi-point marks by freshmen defensemen within the post-lockout period:
Zach Werenski, 2016-17 – 12 video games (Columbus Blue Jackets)For pretty much as good as Werenski has been in his brief profession, it’s a bit shocking that his greatest offensive output – 47 factors – got here as a freshman. Werenski totalled 25 factors throughout his 12 multi-point video games in 2016-17, highlighted by three point-plus outings in March. Over the previous three seasons, Werenski has 15 multi-point efforts, together with a four-point contest in opposition to the Boston Bruins final season and two deuces this November. Werenski hasn’t been a lot of a purpose scorer in his profession. He has only one two-goal sport in 4 seasons, however he’s on tempo for his first 20-goal, 50-point season proper now.
Dion Phaneuf, 2005-06 – 11 video games (Calgary Flames)The 2005-06 rookie class was among the many greatest in NHL historical past, and Phaneuf-mania was working wild. Phaneuf, presently sitting on the sidelines as an unrestricted free agent who has 494 profession factors, began with a profitable 20-goal, 49-point season, bolstered by 11 multi-point video games. Amongst them, a three-point effort in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks in November led the way in which and he managed a minimum of one multi-point efficiency in each month of the NHL season. Two seasons later, Phaneuf recorded the one 60-point season of his profession, his five-assist sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning in December marking the very best offensive output of his profession. He completed because the runner-up for the Norris Trophy that season.
Will Butcher, 2017-18 – 9 video games (New Jersey Devils)Butcher is just one full season faraway from his greatest NHL output, a 44-point freshman effort in 2017-18 that earned him some Calder Trophy consideration. It couldn’t have began a lot better, both, as he recorded a season-high three assists in his NHL debut in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche earlier than following it up with two-assist efforts the next week in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers. He took a step again offensively final season regardless of seeing a bump in ice time and duty, recording simply 5 two-point efforts en path to a 30-point season. It’s nonetheless early, however he’s on tempo to match that complete in 2019-20, however with three targets in 21 video games, he’s in line to succeed in a double-digit purpose complete for the primary time in his profession.
Kevin Shattenkirk, 2010-11 – 9 video games (Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues)Shattenkirk might have had a troublesome time getting settled throughout his rookie season as he was shipped off to the St. Louis Blues by the Avalanche by the point the deadline rolled round, however his efficiency didn’t endure. Shattenkirk led all rookie defensemen with 43 factors, ending forward of the likes of Cam Fowler, P.Okay. Subban and John Carlson. Shattenkirk typically put up factors in bunches, too. From Nov. 20 to Dec. 17, whereas nonetheless with the Avalanche, Shattenkirk had 5 multi-point contests. Coincidentally, his ultimate two-point sport got here in opposition to Colorado on the finish of the season. Shattenkirk’s 43-point effort was indication of what the defender was succesful. He’s plying his commerce as a top-pairing defenseman in Tampa Bay and has recorded greater than 40 factors 5 occasions over the previous 9 seasons. He’s on tempo to hit that mark once more this season.
John Klingberg, 2014-15 – Eight video games (Dallas Stars)4 rookie defensemen have posted eight multi-point outings within the post-lockout period, however Klingberg is the one of these rearguards with a four-point effort and his 18 factors are the very best complete throughout the eight video games. The second half of the 2014-15 season was when Klingberg actually got here into his personal. From Jan. 13 to Feb. 2, Klingberg recorded 5 multi-point video games, together with a two-goal, four-point effort in opposition to the Winnipeg Jets. It was the beginning of one thing particular in Dallas, and Klingberg has since turn into top-of-the-line offensive defensemen within the NHL. He managed 58 factors as a sophomore (14 multi-point video games) and a career-high 67-point marketing campaign in 2017-18 (15 multi-point video games). Factors haven’t come straightforward for Klingberg this season – he has eight by 20 video games – however Dallas can nonetheless depend on Klingberg as a blueline chief.
(All numbers from Hockey-Reference.)
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Tags: calgary flames, vancouver canucks, columbus blue jackets, dallas stars, st. louis blues, colorado avalanche, nhlConnect: In regards to the AuthorSteven EllisSteven Ellis is a Digital Content material Producer for The Hockey Information. He spends his free time listening to music you would not like and watches obnoxiously-long motor races.