Vancouver hockey fans will have to wait to see the Canucks鈥� top pick in this year鈥檚 NHL draft play with the team.

Defenceman Quinn Hughes has decided to return to the University of Michigan this fall.

The 18-year-old says in an interview with the school鈥檚 athletic department that he loves his teammates and believes the Wolverines have what it takes to capture an NCAA championship this season.

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The seventh overall pick at this year鈥檚 NHL draft had five goals and 29 points in 37 games with Michigan last season, when the team was knocked out of the championship semifinals by Notre Dame.

Hughes says Canucks general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green are happy with the decision and are thinking about what鈥檚 best for him long term.

GM Jim Benning鈥檚 statement on Quinn Hughes opting to return to next season.

鈥� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

Benning has previously said that he feels the five-foot-10, 174-pound defenceman is already an NHL skater, but needs to get physically stronger to play in the league.

After weighing all the options, Hughes says returning to school in Michigan is what makes the most sense.

鈥淢y legacy at Michigan鈥檚 important to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to do something special at Michigan 鈥� something that nobody鈥檚 ever done.鈥�

The Canadian Press