The Vancouver Canucks have made a major move by trading their captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
In exchange for Hughes, the Canucks will receive centre Marco Rossi, defenceman Zeev Buium, promising forward Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round draft pick from the Wild.
This trade signifies a significant change for the Canucks, bidding farewell to one of their most accomplished players in franchise history. Hughes, a standout defenseman who has been a perennial contender for the Norris Trophy and even secured the award in 2024, has been a cornerstone for the Canucks over his eight seasons in the NHL.
The decision to trade Hughes comes as the Canucks have hinted at a possible rebuild following a challenging season start that has left them at the bottom of the NHL standings with an 11-17-3 record. While initially focusing on moving veteran players with expiring contracts, the Canucks ultimately decided that Hughes would fetch the best return in a trade. By acquiring three recent first-round picks along with promising talent in Rossi, Buium, and Ohgren, the Canucks appear to have set a solid foundation for their rebuild.
Hughes, aged 26, has been a strong contributor this season with 23 points in 26 games and an impressive total of 432 points in his 459-game career. He now joins the Minnesota Wild, a team on the rise, as they compete with top contenders like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars in the tough Central Division. With the addition of Hughes to their defense, the Wild aim to make a strong push for the Stanley Cup in the upcoming seasons before he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027.
While contract negotiations with Hughes cannot officially start until July 1, the Wild will have the opportunity to offer him an eight-year extension this summer before changes to the CBA reduce the maximum contract term to seven years starting in September.