The Vancouver Canucks have traded captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for centre Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick.
Dreger adds that the Canucks have known for a while that Hughes would not be signing an extension with the club following the expiration of his deal after next season. The New Jersey Devils, where Hughes’ brothers Jack and Luke play, were given a chance to make a deal, as were other teams in the Eastern Conference. Wild general manager Bill Guerin engaged the Canucks a week ago and closed the deal.
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.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 13, 2025
“We would like to thank Quinn for his time with the Vancouver Canucks,” said Jim Rutherford, president of hockey operations. “Quinn is a great person, a great player, and one of the greatest Canucks of all time. With the circumstances surrounding JT and now Quinn, we are fortunate to acquire these very good young players from Minnesota. They will be a key part of the rebuild that we are currently in, giving us a bright future moving forward. The hockey club will continue to build with talented young players using that as a blueprint to become a contender sooner rather than later.”
“Like Jim, I would also like to thank Quinn for everything he has done in Vancouver,” said general manager Patrik Allvin. “Quinn played hard, led by example and did a lot of very good things for the Canucks. Trading away a player of this calibre is never an easy decision to make, but it was one we had to do to make our team better. We are so excited to add a solid centre in Marco, a good young blueliner in Zeev and a versatile forward in Liam. This year’s draft is a strong one so acquiring a first-round pick was also a big part of this deal.”
The Canucks have known for a while Hughes wasn’t going to extend. Van believed their leverage was highest in Dec-Jan. NJD were given a chance. Other teams in east had a chance. A week ago Guerin engaged and closed the deal.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 13, 2025
Hughes, 26, had spent his entire eight-year career with the Canucks after being selected seventh overall by the club in the 2018 NHL Draft. He was named captain of the team in September 2023.
The Orlando, Fla., native has recorded 61 goals and 432 points in 459 games with the Canucks, winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman in 2023-24.
This season, Hughes has two goals and 23 points in 26 games.
He has one year remaining on a six-year, $47.1 million deal he signed with Vancouver in Oct. 2021 that comes with a cap hit of $7.85M.
Hughes cannot extend with the Wild until July 1, but Minnesota is now the only team that can give Hughes an eight-year extension with a front-loaded structure and unlimited signing bonuses before the CBA rules change takes place on Sept. 15, according to TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Hughes and his camp have given no assurances to the Wild that he will extend with the team next summer.
There has been no assurances given to the Wild that Hughes will extend next summer, per sources.
Obviously, Guerin knows him well
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 13, 2025
Rossi, 24, has four goals and 13 points in 17 games this season. Since being drafted ninth overall by the Wild in the 2020 NHL Draft, Rossi has posted 49 goals and 114 points in 202 games.
The Austrian signed a three-year, $15 million contract with Minnesota this past offseason after setting career high marks in goals (24) and points (60) in 2024-25.
Buium, 20, has appeared in 31 games in his first NHL season, amassing three goals and 14 points. The Wild selected him 12th in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Ohgren, 21, has not recorded a point in 18 games with the Wild this season. He has played in 46 career NHL games since being drafted 19th overall in 2022, compiling three goals and four assists.