Following Quinn Hughes' trade from the Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild on December 12—as covered in the first article of this series—Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and new Wild blueliner Quinn Hughes top NHL EDGE metrics in skating and shooting ahead of Sunday's Central Division matchup at Xcel Energy Center. Makar leads in points and long-range shots; Hughes excels on the power play.
The Wild (47 points in 35 games) host the division-leading Avalanche (55 points in 33 games) at 6 p.m. ET Sunday, the first meeting between Makar and Hughes since the trade.
Makar, a two-time Norris winner (2022, 2025), Calder recipient (2020), Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe champion (2022), leads defensemen with 40 points (10 goals, 30 assists) in 33 games. Hughes, the 2024 Norris winner who was second in 2020 Calder voting, has posted 2 points (1G, 1A) in three games with Minnesota after missing time pre- and post-trade; he leads D in power-play points (13) and averages 27:39 ice time.
NHL EDGE data underscores their dominance. Makar has skated 119.38 miles (96th percentile), slightly ahead of Hughes' 118.28 (95th); Hughes holds the D single-game record (4.76 miles, Nov. 29), Makar peaked at 4.55 (Dec. 9). On the power play, Makar leads skating distance (21.82 miles), Hughes is second (19.72), with Hughes topping offensive zone time at 47.1% (97th percentile) vs. Makar's 44.6% (86th).
In speed bursts over 20 mph, Makar ranks 4th (85 in 33 GP), Hughes 7th (68 in 29 GP); Makar's top speed is 23.68 mph (2nd among D), vs. Hughes' 22.51. Shot stats favor Hughes' hardest shot (95.04 mph, 87th percentile) but Makar higher average (71.91 mph, 90th vs. 67.46); Hughes has 33 midrange shots on goal (2nd), Makar 27 (7th), with Makar leading long-range shots (48, 6th NHL) and high-danger attempts (10, t-4th D). Hughes scored a midrange goal in his Wild debut; Makar has four (t-3rd).
More clashes loom February 26 and March 8 in Colorado, as the Wild push for contention.
