Minnesota Wild shock the NHL world by acquiring elite defenseman Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks—are the Wild now legitimate Stanley Cup contenders?
Seth Toupal breaks down Bill Guerin’s all-in gamble, sending Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren, Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick to Vancouver for Hughes, one of the league’s premier offensive defensemen. Key topics include how Hughes transforms the Wild’s blue line alongside Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon, and Jonas Brodin, the implications for Minnesota’s center depth, and whether Danila Yurov can step up after Rossi’s departure. Plus, what moves must the Wild make next to match up with Central Division rivals Dallas and Colorado, and will Hughes commit long-term or head for New Jersey?
Get the latest analysis on Minnesota Wild’s revamped power play, roster needs, and the team’s aggressive push into their contention window.
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#NHL #KirillKaprizov #MinnesotaWild
37 Comments
Wowza
why zev? why not tersanko
Hopefully we can produce and maybe steal the other brothers from New Jersey
Also hopefully other great players think about coming to Minnesota because of our Fans and Star power.
I just feel like assets should have been used to land a superstar forward. Defense was looking pretty set to me.
Looks like we're trying something new unstead of building and dreaming one day this younster gonna put the "biscuit in the basket" … it has been frustrating going all the way back to dump and chase north stars .. still don't feel it's over yet
Can't imagine what Buium is feeling right now. I feel bad for the kid (and yes, I know "it's a business"), I'm sure he thought he would be playing in Minnesota for years to come. Emotions aside though, this is a heck of a trade and this is a sensational player we get to watch for the rest of the year (and hopefully the foreseeable future). Bravo Billy….but you better not let him walk.
This is absolutely "HUGhEs"(get it?)but if they are really all in…BG better add another decent name of two at F or it's a major failed opportunity…If I'm BG I'm dangling all my top picks for next few draft years that's really all in…Like Tampa did
I like Rossi but undersized and is hurt
Now that I have had time to think about it I like this trade. yes we gave up a lot, but it’s Quinn Hughes. Hughes also fits our timeline a little better than buium
Are biggest loss is Buium that kid could become better than Quinn in the future
Fan; I watched Quinn play against the Red Wings this week. Quinn, when opportunity knocks, is a natural forward with mate cooperation.
Listen Seth, I'm a little late to the party. Here's the deal. All these top teams that are cup contenders don't pass on guys when they are available. In the last 5 years some major blockbuster signings/trades for M Tkachuk with FLA, Mikko Rantanen to DAL, Pasta resigning in BOS, Marchand to FLA, etc… and they go on to great success. You can't pass these opportunities and MN never gets them. This was an absolute win at the time, for better or worse in the end. Gotta shoot our shots and the 2nd best D man in the league leaves no room for second guessing. Proud of BG for making things happen but I'm gutted for Rossi and Buium leaving. Let's go Wild!!!!
With this trade maybe the other Quinns come to Minnesota instead of Quinn going to New Jersey
I just watched your whole take. As a Canucks fan im happy we found a trade partner. Best of luck getting our former captain the Stanley Cup. He deserves it. And best of luck re-signing him. He definitely going to he north of $15M.
I’m incredibly sad and disheartened to see Quinn go, mainly because I won’t have the luxury to see him play 42-3 games at home anymore. But I’m VERY excited to see Quinn to thrive and finally get everyone to see how good he really is. He’s gonna put up numbers that could surpass Makar and finally people will pay attention because they never did to the Canucks lol
I was worried that we could be left with nothing if we're unable to extend Hughes this summer… however worst case, we could trade him and get a return similar to Carolina with Rantanen. They were able to get some assets back once they learned they weren't going to be able to resign him. So maybe a low risk move. Rossi was likely going to return as a 3rd line center based on Yurov's performance. Ohgren looked like he was likely not going to crack the top 6… maybe middle 6, so his value was less. Buium… we were hoping he'd develop into a Hughes type Defenseman. We got Hughes… obviously we really need to figure out how to keep him. He'll command big money!
This is a great trade but wish BG would have got a contract extension baked. I know it’s early. We need to keep him or get a cup within the 2 years.
This will be a HUGE boost to the power play and elevate 5 on 5. Quinn is ready now.
Rossi and Liam could care less. Zeev is a bummer and feel for the kid. He just had his Becoming Wild episode too.
Up to KK and Boldy to convince him to stay. This rivals Colorado and Dallas and we have better goaltending.
Let’s Go Wild. Tickets for Sunday will be scarce
I thought Quinn was going to join his brothers in Jersey. He still might after his contract expires in 2027. But, this guy is a Norris Trophy winner and probably the second best offensive D-man in the World behind Makar.
Excellent trade for Minnesota. If Hughes doesn’t want to re-sign, you can trade him next TDL to recoup most of what you gave up today. And you get at least one playoff run to see what Hughes and Kaprizov can do together along with Faber and Boldy.
Minnesota sports fans are such cowards😂 already terrified he will leave instead of realizing you just got a 26 year old norris winner.
All the hype of zeev and u toss him to the curb… I hope zeev becomes a superstar and then tells BG to go fuck himself
Is Hughes better than rossi,zeev,oghren,and 1st round pick combined??? Or is this a Brent burns 2.0
Remember the trade for hinnestroza.
I wonder what the league will be thinking as MN could be a magnet for some better talent
This absolutely blew me away, like this came out of nowhere. Hughes and Kaprizov. Hughes and Boldy. Hughes and Faber. I am so excited to see him play this weekend
Most talented player in franchise history. Enjoy him Minnesota. Cup contender for sure now.
I don't Think Hughs makes the Wild a Cup contender. Not enough depth scoring, some of which just got traded away; and Hughs is not exactly going to make up for it. Besides, still have to get through the Ducks, Av's, and stars. Then you have to get through the best of the East to win it. And any one of the east coast teams are better than 7 out of every 10 western conference teams. Vancouver screwed Hughs over by not trading him to a Eastern conference team and there's about a 10% chance he stays.
Wold told zeev to go fuck himself
I wish they could have found a way to keep Zeev but Hughes is a superstar in his own right.
Wild are feeling themselves and going all in. I like it.
If Wild doesn't sign Hughes long term, giving up Buium is going to turn out to be a HUUUUUGE mistake. Buium is amazing!
40 year old Canuck fan here. Remember listening on the radio (a real radio) the Wild beating us in round 2 in 2003. Once again, the Wild best us. I know you loved your players you lost but you get not an elite but a Generational defenseman, for sure #2 in the league, and it's just a fluke Cale Makar exists in the same generation or else you'd have the best defenseman of this generation. And…If he doesn't work out? You trade him for a haul next year. Win, win, and win.
I’m a Vancouver hockey fan, and it’s so sad that Hughes got traded to Minnesota. Because of that, I’m a Minnesota Wild fan now—but Vancouver is still my official team. So now I have two teams to watch. Good luck!
Minnesota is so weak down the middle that getting rid of center depth without getting anything back at that position is VERY concerning. Billy better get some kind of center help coming in or I hate this move. Buium was… I think he'll be a stud. It's sad to see him go. Love Hughes, but I'd really be surprised if he didn't bolt for New Jersey after '27. I think the Wild could be looking back at this and regretting it.
We’ve been waiting for Wild to take a big swing and they did. I liked Rossi and Zeev but you got to take a chance!
Hope he signs for you guys, good luck
Lfg. Insane this was actually pulled off. Buium is the only piece that stings going out but Quinn Hughes is already everything you could have only hoped Buium could ever become. They must have alot of faith in Yurov to send Rossi, I agree w you Seth.