Do Vancouver Canucks fans hold a grudge?
It’s not unusual to see a former player get booed by the home crowd. That’s especially true when the player requested a trade, creating a messy divorce.
But the reception Brady Tkachuk received Wednesday night in Ottawa was on another level. It wasn’t just that he got booed; it was how angry the boos sounded.
“Brady sucks” chants were predictable. “F*ck your podcast” took it to another level.
The reception was so frosty that fans even booed Tkachuk’s tribute video.
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The level of vitriol from Ottawa Senators fans caught the attention, and admiration, of hockey fans across the NHL.
It begs the question: What is Sunday going to look and sound like at Rogers Arena?
That’s when Quinn Hughes will play the Canucks in Vancouver for the first time since being traded last December.
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There are parallels to the departures of both Tkachuk and Hughes and how Sens and Canucks fans feel about their respective former captains. But on some level, Canucks fans must understand Hughes’ decision. The team was a dumpster fire. What logical reason did he have to re-sign in Vancouver?
That only tells part of the story, though.
What sort of reception is Hughes in store for? (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
There’s a reason Canucks fans on social media regularly call him “Quit Hughes.”
Hughes is one of the best players in franchise history, and no other Canucks defenceman came close to having the success he had. But his effort was questioned in his final weeks as a Canuck, including a famous example where he appeared to give up on a play.
Fans have also pointed out that the dressing room drama happened on his watch as captain.
He led by example on the ice by virtue of being one of the best defencemen in the world. But could he have done more?
In his final interview as a member of the Canucks, Offside asked Hughes a question that related to helping his teammates during a tough time. The Canucks were coming off a 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on home ice, dropping their overall record to 11-17-3.
“We’ve kind of talked about some of this noise maybe affecting the team in the room. Is there anything you can do to maybe quiet some of that noise down?” Hughes was asked post-game by Trevor Beggs on Dec. 11.
“I mean, I’m just trying to do everything I can,” Hughes said. “I mean, you watch me play. I’m trying to bring it every night and be a good teammate. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Hughes did share a nice parting message on Instagram the day after he was traded, saying that he loved the “passion in the city.” He added that playing in Vancouver was special because of the people and what the team means to them.
Maybe Hughes was simply miscast as a captain. He was understandably frustrated by all the losing and maybe wasn’t the best version of himself in his final season in Vancouver. Or maybe fans are just a bit jealous that he’s having success elsewhere.
We’ll find out on Sunday how Canucks fans are feeling, and where that ranks on a scale of one-to-Ottawa.