The Minnesota Wild have blown the doors off the NHL on Friday night by trading for Vancouver Canucks’ captain Quinn Hughes.
The Wild, interestingly enough, were one team no one really saw coming. The talk had centered on the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils. The prevailing chatter had been Hughes’ penchant for playing with his brothers in New Jersey.
In fact, the talk had gone as far as stating that Hughes did not want to join a Western Conference team. Well, the Wild qualify as Western Conference team.
The return, meanwhile, is substantial. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, Canucks will get forward Marco Rossi, defensive prospect Zeev Buium, and forward Liam Ohgren. A first-round pick will also head westward to Vancouver.
It’s unclear where the Canucks will be sending anything else to the Wild. So, there’s plenty to unpack here.
The most evident situation is that the Wild are all in. They’re not beating about the bush. They committed a boatload of money to Kirill Kaprizov this season. So, it makes sense that the Wild would want to make a move like this. Hughes instantly upgrades the Wild defense that already features a young stud in Brock Faber.
Now, with Hughes and Faber in tow, it will be hard to find a blue line that can match, well, except for the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild are in the midst of an epic battle with an Avalanche team that’s having a season for the ages.
Moreover, the Wild will likely run into a team like the Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and the Avalanche themselves in the playoffs. Having Hughes in the fold will be a major offensive weapon Minnesota can deploy in such a situation.
Wild Pay Hefty Price for Hughes
The price the Wild paid for Hughes is in line with what the Canucks reportedly wanted. Firstly, the Canucks wanted a young, top-six center. So, Rossi. Check. The Canucks and Wild had discussed a trade involving Rossi last offseason. The trade talk ramped up as Rossi, an RFA at that time, was reluctant to sign with the Wild.
Rossi will immediately become the Canucks’ top line center amid the team’s horrendous injury situation.
Second, the Canucks wanted a defenseman who could take over for Hughes. Buium fits that bill. He was the Wild’s first-rounder in the 2024 NHL Draft. He made the jump this season and looked like he could become a stud alongside Faber.
While Buium won’t be Quinn Hughes, at least not right now, the Canucks could have gotten their future number-one defenseman.
Lastly, Liam Ohgren, the 19th overall pick from 2022, hasn’t emerged as a significant player this season. He has yet to record a point in 18 games this season. However, the talent is there. He’ll likely get a shot in Vancouver’s top six right away.
Minnesota Instantly Becomes Top Contender in West
As for the Wild, getting Hughes gives them instant street cred. They’ve gone from a good team to a great one. They have great defense, solid goaltending, and with Hughes, their offensive will get a massive boost.
This season seems like the best time for the Wild to go for it. GM Bill Guerin had a unique opportunity to capitalize on an opening in the West. Aside from the insanely good season from the Avalanche, the Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets have regressed. The Edmonton Oilers, who traded for Tristan Jarry earlier on Friday, are also struggling.
So, the West could come down to an epic showdown between the Wild and the Dallas Stars in the first round. Minnesota hardly looks like a team heading for a first-round exit. They’re the team looming like an unstoppable monster.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Wild All-In with Mind-Shocking Hughes Trade appeared first on Heavy Sports.