Quinn Hughes reveals he wanted to be apart of Central division team

Quinn Hughes had quite the story at the 2018 NHL Scouting Combine. He would be interviewed by Chicago Blackhawks brass as they gauge the players who they have the potential to pick in the upcoming draft that year.

To start, Hughes had a locker next to Patrick Kane at the World Championships, and while he wasn't an NHL player yet, he was angling to get a shot to play with the Blackhawks. A legendary franchise in the NHL.

We got a small clip of the interview to show you, as Hughes excitedly recalls the interaction between himself and Kane:

However, things wouldn't go as planned. Quinn Hughes was taken 7th overall by the Canucks. While the Blackhawks would lose out on future superstar material in the former Michigan Wolverine's defenseman.

Now Canucks Captain.

The Blackhawks would instead choose to pick Adam Boqvist, who no longer plays for the team, and has bounced around team to team after he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021 for Seth Jones.

Quinn Hughes has seen a total of 30 playoff games in the NHL.

While Adam Boqvist played 17 games for the New York Islanders in 2024-2025, and has yet to find a legitimate home in the league.

Not to mention, for Seth Jones, they gave up a 1st-round pick in 2021 (12th overall) & 2022, and a conditional 2nd-round pick, in addition to Boqvist.

Another case of coulda, woulda, shoulda if GM Stan Bowman had the ingenuity to trade up in 2018.