It’s been just over a month since the Vancouver Canucks made the bold move to trade Quinn Hughes, and while it’s still early days, the returns are starting to take shape. Three young players-Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and Liam Öhgren-came over from Minnesota, and all three have seen their roles expand significantly since landing in Vancouver. For a team in the middle of a rebuild, this is exactly the kind of developmental runway you want to see.
Let’s start with Marco Rossi.
The Austrian center was brought in to address a glaring need down the middle-specifically, to solidify the second-line center spot. Right out of the gate, he was thrust into a top-line role due to an injury to Elias Pettersson. That’s a tough ask for any player, especially one trying to find his footing with a new team.
Through eight games, Rossi has just two points. That’s not the kind of production you’re hoping for from a top-six center, but context matters here.
Rossi came in nursing an injury and then picked up another one shortly after joining the lineup. So while the numbers aren’t where you'd like them to be, it’s hard to make a definitive judgment when the sample size is this small and disrupted.
That said, there’s reason to keep a close eye on his return. When he’s healthy, Rossi will need to show more offensive punch.
The Canucks didn’t bring him in just to fill a jersey-they’re counting on him to be part of the core moving forward. It’s not time to hit the panic button, but there’s definitely a spotlight on what he does next.
Now to Zeev Buium, who might be the most intriguing piece of this trade.
Buium came in with the expectation of stepping into some of the space left behind by Hughes-not to replicate his production, but to start carving out a role as a top-four defenseman with upside. Since arriving, Buium’s ice time has jumped from around 18 minutes a night with the Wild to over 20 with the Canucks. He’s also been given a shot running the top power play unit, a clear sign the coaching staff sees his offensive potential.
But like any 20-year-old defenseman, there have been growing pains. Defensive lapses, turnovers, and the occasional missed assignment have led to some tough moments.
That’s part of the deal with young blueliners. What matters more is how he responds-and so far, Buium has shown flashes of the high-end skating and puck-moving ability that made him such a coveted prospect.
One decision that raised eyebrows was Buium being scratched for the January 12th game against Montreal. Head coach Adam Foote called it a rest day, and while that’s not unusual for a young player logging big minutes, it’s a bit puzzling when veterans making similar mistakes continue to play. In a rebuild, you’d expect the priority to be on letting the kids learn through experience.
Buium has mostly been paired with Tyler Myers on the second pair, but there’s a growing argument to be made for giving him a longer look next to Filip Hronek. The two have shown some early chemistry, and if Hronek is part of the long-term plan, it makes sense to start building that partnership now.
The upside is clear-Buium looks like he could be a key piece of the Canucks’ blue line for years to come. The more reps he gets now, the better.
And then there’s Liam Öhgren-the so-called “throw-in” who’s turning into a real find.
Öhgren didn’t arrive with the same fanfare as Rossi or Buium. He was a player the Canucks had liked in the 2022 draft, but his time in Minnesota didn’t exactly move the needle.
Expectations were modest. But since joining Vancouver, he’s been making a name for himself in a hurry.
Five points in 16 games won’t blow anyone away on paper, but the impact goes beyond the scoresheet. Öhgren has brought size, speed, and relentless effort on every shift.
He’s been one of the most consistent performers in the Canucks’ bottom six, and he’s earned a few looks higher up the lineup. If that trend continues, don’t be surprised if the production starts to follow.
What’s most encouraging is that Öhgren looks like the kind of player who can thrive in multiple roles. He’s responsible defensively, he plays with energy, and he’s not afraid to get into the dirty areas. For a team trying to build a new identity, that kind of player is invaluable.
So, how does the trade look one month in?
The hole left by Quinn Hughes is still very real-there’s no sugarcoating that. But for a team in a rebuild, the early returns are promising. All three players have been given more opportunity in Vancouver than they had in Minnesota, and that’s exactly what this season should be about: development, evaluation, and building toward the future.
Rossi needs to get healthy and find his offensive rhythm. Buium needs to continue learning on the job and ironing out the defensive wrinkles.
Öhgren? He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
There’s still a long road ahead, but if you’re the Canucks, you have to feel encouraged by what you’ve seen so far. These aren’t just placeholders-they’re potential building blocks. And in a season where wins may be hard to come by, that’s a win in itself.