
The Vancouver Canucks made a huge decision on Friday by trading team captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.
In exchange for their now-former leader, the Canucks received three former first-round picks in Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren, as well as the Wild's 2026 first-round pick.
Hughes’ exit came after a difficult year for the club last season, following a horrible start to the 2025-26 season.
Vancouver has remained near the bottom of the NHL standings for the first two months of play and is currently dead last with an 11-17-3 record and 25 points in 31 games.
Agent Pat Brisson spoke to Sportsnet after the trade to Minnesota and revealed Hughes' feelings about the breakup with the Canucks and his exit from Vancouver.
Excited about Zeev Buium and others, sad at the loss of Quinn Hughes, Canucks boldly leap in new direction.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) December 13, 2025
Jim Rutherford: “We love (Quinn). But what does this mean? This thing can turn for the Canucks certainly within the next couple of years.”
https://t.co/CfXxYb3qCZ
According to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre, Brisson said the following on Friday.
"Jim and I had so many conversations, and we were realistic about [re-signing] based on where the Canucks are at," Brisson said. "So Quinn is relieved because he’s going to play meaningful hockey on a very good team. It’s been a tough three months for him.
"The Canucks always wanted to do right by Quinn but also do right by themselves. And it seems the Minnesota Wild and Bill Guerin really put a strong package together. I believe the Canucks got more than they could get in June."
General manager Patrik Allvin acknowledged the difficulty of moving on and parting ways with Hughes.
“Quinn played hard, led by example and did a lot of very good things for the Canucks,” Allvin said.
Canucks president Jim Rutherford, meanwhile, noted the importance of adding young pieces as part of the long-term restructuring and the Hughes move, as Rossi, Buium and Ohgren are expected to play key roles in the Canucks' rebuild.
Hughes will make his Wild debut on Sunday when Minnesota hosts the Boston Bruins at 6 p.m. ET.
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