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Wild acquire star Quinn Hughes for massive haul

Originally posted on Bring Me The News
By Jonathan Harrison | Last updated Dec 12, 2025 8:02 PM ET

The Wild have acquired former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in a stunning blockbuster trade on Friday evening.

According to numerous reports, the Wild will send Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren, Zeev Buium, and their 2026 first-round pick to the Canucks for the 26-year-old star defenseman.

Hughes was the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner, awarded to the league's best defenseman. Since debuting in the NHL in the 2018-19 season, Hughes has recorded 432 points via 61 goals and 371 assists. He has recorded over 60 assists in each of the last four seasons and has 21 assists in 26 games this season.

In acquiring Hughes, the Wild are giving up significant young pieces. Rossi, 24, has 49 goals and 114 assists since debuting for the Wild in the 2021-22 season. Öhgren, 21, and Buium, 20, were recent first-round picks by the Wild over the past three years.

Along with Rossi, who was Minnesota's first-round pick in 2020, the Wild are essentially giving up a total of four-first rounders in order to add Hughes to their squad.

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Here's a taste of what you can look forward to seeing from Quinn Hughes!

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Hughes' contract runs through the end of the 2026-27 season on $7.85m AAV. According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, the Wild have been given "no assurances" that Hughes will re-sign with the organization. He isn't extension-eligible until July 1, 2026.

In making this move, Wild general manager Bill Guerin is adding one of the league's best defensemen in an attempt to take a serious shot at the Stanley Cup this season. Meanwhile, for the last-place Canucks, it's an admittance that the season is not going well and it's time to rebuild, while getting a haul for a player who likely wasn't going to sign an extension in Vancouver.

Minnesota currently sits in third place in the Central Division with 39 points, trailing the Colorado Avalanche (51 points) and the Dallas Stars (47 points). The Wild have knocked off both the Avs and Stars in recent games — the Avs in a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 28 and the Stars in a 5-2 win on Thursday evening.

The Wild host the Ottawa Senators at Grand Casino Arena on Saturday, with puck drop set for 1 p.m. CT. The Canucks are currently in New Jersey for a game against the Devils on Sunday. If Hughes can't make his debut on Saturday, then the Wild host the Boston Bruins on Sunday, with puck drop set for 5 p.m. CT.

This is a developing story...

This article first appeared on Bring Me The News and was syndicated with permission.

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