VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Vancouver Canucks faced a setback on Sunday night as star defenseman Quinn Hughes was unable to participate in their game against the Detroit Red Wings due to an undisclosed injury he incurred two days prior during a match in Dallas.

Hughes, who is the current Norris Trophy holder for the NHL’s top defenseman, took part in the pregame warmup but was seen spending considerable time speaking with the trainers on the bench before exiting the ice early. Subsequently, he was scratched from the game roster.

Coach Rick Tocchet commented on the situation following the Canucks’ 3-2 overtime defeat, stating, “He wanted to gut it out. But not the smartest play to play him.” Tocchet emphasized Hughes’s dedication by noting that the player desires to compete in every game. The coach mentioned a timeline for Hughes’s potential recovery, saying, “So 48 hours (before our next game), we’ll see how he is.”

Earlier in the game against Dallas, Hughes had delivered a hit on Evgenii Dadonov but continued to play until he ultimately went to the locker room. Though he later returned to join a Vancouver power play, he appeared to be laboring and showed signs of discomfort while sitting on the bench.

In Hughes’s absence, Derek Forbort stepped up to fill the defensive role alongside Filip Hronek on the team’s top defensive pairing. This season, Hughes has made a significant impact, leading the Canucks in scoring with 14 goals and 45 assists across 47 games.