Five Weeks Later: The Quinn Hughes Trade is Defining Two Franchises in Very Different Ways
It’s been just over a month since the Vancouver Canucks made a move that sent shockwaves through the NHL - trading captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. In return, Vancouver received a 2026 first-round pick and a trio of promising young players: Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Ohgren. Now that the dust has settled a bit, we’re starting to see the early returns - and they paint a picture of two teams heading in very different directions.
Hughes Hits the Ground Skating in Minnesota
Let’s start in Minnesota, where Hughes hasn’t just lived up to expectations - he’s blown right past them. In just 17 games with the Wild, the dynamic defenseman has racked up 18 points, instantly becoming a cornerstone on both ends of the ice. He even made franchise history with a four-assist performance against Anaheim earlier this month - the most ever by a Wild defenseman in a single game.
This is exactly the kind of impact Minnesota was banking on when they pulled the trigger on the blockbuster deal. General Manager Bill Guerin knew the cost would be steep, but he also knew opportunities like this don’t come around often.
“Bringing a player like Quinn Hughes here, you just don’t get these opportunities all that often,” Guerin said. “When a player of Quinn’s caliber comes available, and you have an opportunity to get him, there’s a cost to it and we were willing to do what it takes.”
So far, that gamble is paying off - big time.
The Hughes Effect Is Real
Hughes hasn’t just elevated his own game - he’s raised the level of those around him. Superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov, already one of the league’s most dangerous offensive threats, is thriving with Hughes on the back end.
“Quinn is so good,” Kaprizov said. “I knew how good he was offensively, the way he can make plays and get the puck out.
But I didn’t know how good he was defensively. I just love it.”
That’s a telling quote from one of the league’s elite - and it speaks to how Hughes’ presence has transformed Minnesota’s blue line. His ability to transition the puck, quarterback the power play, and shut down top lines has made him a game-changer in every sense of the word.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver…
The Canucks, on the other hand, are feeling the full weight of what they gave up. Since the trade, Vancouver has gone winless in 10 straight games (0-8-2) - a brutal stretch that’s left them reeling and still searching for their first win of the new calendar year.
This isn't just a cold streak - it’s a full-on freefall. Without Hughes anchoring the back end, the Canucks have struggled to find any sort of rhythm, and the growing pains of a rebuild are becoming more evident by the day.
While there’s long-term potential in the return package - Buium, Rossi, and Ohgren all bring upside - none of them are ready to fill the void left by Hughes just yet. And in the short term, that’s left Vancouver exposed.
A Trade That’s Defining Two Seasons
Five weeks in, the early verdict is clear: Minnesota got the impact player they needed to chase a Stanley Cup, and Vancouver got a hard dose of reality.
Could this deal look different in a year or two? Absolutely.
Buium could blossom into a top-pairing defenseman. Rossi might find another gear.
Ohgren could become a reliable middle-six winger. But right now, the Wild are reaping the rewards of acquiring an elite, in-his-prime defenseman who’s already changing the complexion of their season.
For Vancouver, the pain is real - but so is the plan. Rebuilds are never easy, and this one may take time. But if the young pieces they’ve acquired pan out, this could still be a foundational trade for the franchise’s future.
For now, though, it’s Minnesota celebrating and Vancouver regrouping - a tale of two teams, and one trade that’s already left a mark.