Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes said it’s not up to him whether Quinn Hughes will play with Brock Faber at the Olympics.
But if Team USA coach Mike Sullivan needed any convincing, all he has to do is look at the stats since Hughes arrived in a blockbuster trade to Minnesota last month. What started out as a one-game trial has turned into a six-week tour de force, with Hughes and Faber combining for seven goals and 41 points in 20 games.
Chemistry this instant is not easy to find. Which is why you have to imagine that the dynamic defensive duo, who seem so similar but bring different elements that complement each other’s game, will be paired together in Milan next month.
“Both of them are obviously high-end players,” said Hynes, who is an assistant coach for Team USA. “I would say they’re a little bit different in the way that they play. But they’re both excellent skaters, I think they can break the puck out well, they can transition the puck well, and obviously you see their skating ability, whether it’s off the rush or in the offensive zone, they’re mobile and they make very good decisions with the puck.
“From a defensive standpoint, they’re both committed guys. They’re not just one-way players — they play a strong, two-way game.”
