The Vancouver Canucks have traded Quinn Hughes. Reports by several insiders, including Elliotte Friedman and Darren Dreger, report that the defenseman has been traded to the Minnesota Wild. Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL is still waiting to finalize the deal with a trade call, but this is a move that is happening.
Dreger writes, “Confirming. Vancouver Canucks Trade Quinn Hughes to Minnesota Wild for Minnesota Wild’s 1st round pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren and Zeev Buium.”
Quinn Hughes goes to the Wild in a blockbuster trade
This trade comes completely out of left field as not a single insider had linked the Wild to the Hughes trade speculation. Teams like the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings were connected to possible interest. Even the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals were suggested as potential fits. The Wild were nowhere near the buzz and GM Bill Guerin has caught everyone by surprise.
As for whether there have been conversations about what his future will look like in Minnesota or if the Wild are making this deal under the assumption that nothing is guaranteed, it’s a massive trade. The Wild are playing extremely well this season, and adding Hughes puts them right in the mix as one of the top contenders early in the season.
Hughes has been a workhorse for Vancouver this season, posting two goals and 21 assists in 26 games while averaging a career-high 27:26 per night. Over his career, he’s produced 432 points in 459 regular-season games, just shy of a point per game, and has carried that impact into the playoffs with 26 points in 30 postseason appearances.
The Canucks Got a Solid Return for Hughes
It’s hard to argue any team wins a trade that includes a player of Hughes’ caliber leaving, but the Canucks pulled in quite the return on this deal. Rossi is tracking for his second 50-plus-point season, while Buium is tracking to be a top-pairing defenseman. Ohgren could be a middle-six winger and the first-round pick in a deep draft is and important.
More to come…
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