Following weeks of swirling trade rumors, the Vancouver Canucks have traded captain and Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. In return, Vancouver receives forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick, accelerating their rebuild after a dismal 11-17-3 start.
The blockbuster deal, finalized Friday, sends the 26-year-old defenseman—Vancouver's all-time leading scorer among blueliners—to Minnesota. Hughes, fresh off a 92-point Norris-winning 2023-24 season, had 23 points in 26 games this year on his $7.85 million AAV contract through 2026-27.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin called it a tough day: "Quinn has been a big part of the organization." President Jim Rutherford echoed: "We love him as a person and player."
Vancouver gains high-upside youth: Rossi (24, 13 points in 17 games on a new $15M deal), Ohgren (21, shuttling NHL/AHL), Buium (20, playoff-tested prospect), plus the pick. The newcomers are already practicing with the last-place Canucks.
Wild GM Bill Guerin: "You don’t get opportunities like Quinn Hughes often." Minnesota (17-9-5, third in Central) eyes contention. ESPN graded it A- for Minnesota, A for Vancouver, highlighting future building blocks like Rossi (potential second-line center) and Buium (top-four hope).