The defenseman was initially considered day to day, then week to week after being a late scratch for a 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Hughes did not practice Sunday or Monday.
The Canucks (0-4-2) host the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday (10:30 p.m. ET; SN360, SN1, SNP, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW). They are the only NHL team without a win.
Hughes plays the point on Vancouver's top power-play unit. He has five assists in five games this season and is second in the NHL with an average ice time of 27:14 behind Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
Canucks forward Brock Boeser is day to day with an undisclosed injury after not skating the past two days. He missed most of training camp and the entire preseason after having surgery on his hand Sept. 26 but came back ahead of the original 3-4-week timeline to play the season opener Oct. 12. Boeser has four assists in six games.
Defenseman Tucker Poolman was placed on injured reserve Monday with recurring symptoms of migraine problems that limited him to 40 games last season.
"He is in a tough situation with good days and bad days," Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday.
Defenseman Travis Dermott remains week to week with a concussion sustained in training camp, and defenseman Riley Stillman is day to day with an undisclosed injury suffered against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
Defenseman Guillaume Brisebois was recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Monday and will play against the Hurricanes.
"He's a good skater, he's got good size, so we expect him to compete," Boudreau said. "We expect him to jump in there and show that he can play in the NHL."
