Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes wants to make sure off-ice distractions don't derail his club's upcoming campaign like they did in 2024-25.

Vancouver was one of the NHL's most disappointing teams last season. Injuries to key players held the Canucks back, and a highly publicized feud between stars Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller led to the latter being traded. When the campaign ended, head coach Rick Tocchet left the club and Hughes' future with the organization became a major talking point.

"One thing I’m really good at - or have gotten good at - is I'm very present," Hughes told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "I can't even sign for another year, so there's nothing I can do. As far as the noise, I can handle the noise. That's why I’m the captain of the team, because I can handle these things and I can play at an elite level and it doesn't matter what's going on around me."

Hughes was the Canucks' best player last season. He racked up 78 points in 68 games and was a Norris Trophy finalist after winning the award in 2024.

He has two seasons left on his contract and is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1, 2026. Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said in April that the club will ensure it has enough cap space to give Hughes the deal he deserves, but he raised eyebrows by mentioning the captain might prioritize a chance to play with his brothers over maximizing his earnings. Hughes' younger brothers, Jack and Luke, are teammates on the New Jersey Devils.

"And as far as the noise around my teammates, I'm going to try to help everyone else, too, and be as good a leader as I can be," Quinn said. "Noise doesn't bother me. It's a long year, and I’m just going to be day-to-day and focus on the short term. That's the truth, honestly."

The Canucks drafted Hughes seventh overall in 2018 and named him captain in 2023. He's tied for the franchise lead in points by a defenseman (409) in only 433 games and is a two-time All-Star.