Canucks fans want Hughes to win Norris Trophy, but skeptical he will

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For all the success Quinn Hughes is having this season, for all the buzz he’s generating about winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive player, fans of the Vancouver Canucks still seem to be skeptical.

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Hughes is truly having a season for the ages. He’s hitting statistical heights only achieved in the past by hall-of-famers.

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He’s generating plenty of buzz in national media circles.

But you shouldn’t be surprised Canucks fans are cynical. They know too well how often their team’s hopes have been dashed at the last minute, be it hopes for a Stanley Cup or things far lesser.

Good things just don’t happen in Canuck land, that’s just how it is, as the Canucks fans who have been at it too long know.

“There’s no question that Hughes SHOULD get it but won’t because the Eastern slags will vote for someone else. Donnie and Dhali said the same thing. The east have a narrow view of the league and players seeing only eastern teams and players. Just saying.” — George Mann via email

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George’s commentary isn’t isolated. The long-standing position is that the east either ignores the Canucks at best or, at worst, goes out of their way to keep the Canucks down.

The feeling of many fans that the refs are against the Canucks in-game, that the league suspends the players to a greater extent if they play for the Canucks, that the league goes out of its way to inhibit success for Canadian teams, these are all born out of the same cynicism.

And most years I might be inclined to agree with George.

But this year feels a little different. Hughes is being discussed in the Centre of the Universe in terms that tell you his achievements are drawing attention.

He’s being noticed, but we’ll see if he’s been noticed enough.

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Awards ballots were sent out to reporters on Friday by the NHL, by the way.

“If Quinn Hughes was putting up these numbers this early in his career with another club, he would be the poster boy of the NHL. The Canucks need to stop making excuses, bag a Stanley Cup and earn the respect of the rest of the league. It’s a privilege to be watching him.” — Paul Le Comte via Twitter

Win and you’re in. That’s usually applied to simple stuff, like needing one more win to qualify for the playoffs.

It’s a simple mantra, one that most players would love to hear. It’s controlling your own destiny.

This is a pretty big case of “win and you’re in,” of course. Winning the Stanley Cup is as hard as it gets in this sport.

But Paul is right, if the Canucks were to win the Stanley Cup, somehow, some way, you know the team’s captain would be front and centre in doing so and yes, the league would have to put him front and centre all over.

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“Good. Keep the orca. No team in the NHL is blue and green. Flames alternates exact same colours as the Skate.” — Kieran Moon via Twitter

During Wednesday’s game at Rogers Arena, the Canucks’ pitch to fans to buy merchandise was “let’s paint this town blue.”

If you were looking to wear the black Skate in the playoffs, would you be selling all blue merchandise?

The party plaza outside the rink has just had a bunch of blue-based posters added to it.

The team’s brand is built around the orca.

Of course, in hockey you should never say never until its done, but it’s hard to imagine the team going with the Skate over the Orca, even if there’s a loud segment of the fan base who want to see their heroes in black.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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