Quinn Hughes Traded to Minnesota Wild by Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver parts ways with its captain, receiving a package that includes Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium, and Minnesota’s 2026 first-round pick in exchange for the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman from 2023-24.
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By NHL.com
December 13, 2025
Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks’ captain and a key defenseman, has been dealt to the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
In return, Vancouver obtains forward Marco Rossi, forward Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and Minnesota’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
“Quinn has meant a great deal to our organization, both as a player and as a person,” said Jim Rutherford, Vancouver’s president of hockey operations. “He’s one of the greatest Canucks in franchise history. We’re fortunate to acquire three talented young players from Minnesota who will form the core of our rebuild and help pave the way toward a brighter future. This move aligns with our plan to develop young talent and push toward contention sooner rather than later.”
Hughes, 26, had spent eight seasons with Vancouver after going seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. He claimed the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in the 2023-24 season, posting career highs of 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists). He was a finalist again last season with 76 points (16 goals, 60 assists).
Across 459 NHL games, Hughes has tallied 432 points (61 goals, 371 assists), the most by a Vancouver blueliner in franchise history. This season, he had 23 points (2 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games before the trade, leading the Canucks at the time of the deal.
Hughes’s departure marks a significant shift for Vancouver, which sits at 11-17-3 and eighth in the Pacific Division, eight points outside a wild-card spot under first-year coach Adam Foote.
The Canucks enjoyed a strong 2023-24 season, winning the Pacific Division with a 50-23-9 record and advancing to the Western Conference Second Round under former coach Rick Tocchet. However, Vancouver dropped to 38-30-14 in 2024-25 and missed the playoffs by six points.
Patrik Allvin, Vancouver’s general manager, added: “Like Jim, I’m grateful for what Quinn has done in Vancouver. He played with grit, led by example, and achieved a lot for the Canucks. Trading a player of this caliber is never easy, but it was necessary to improve our roster. We’re excited to add Marco as a solid center, Zeev as a talented young blueliner, and Liam as a versatile forward. The strength of this year’s draft made the inclusion of a first-round pick especially valuable for our rebuild.”
Rossi, 24, a first-round selection (No. 9) by Minnesota in 2020, has accumulated 114 points (49 goals, 65 assists) in 202 games for the Wild, with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) this season.
Buium, 20, Minnesota’s 2024 first-round pick (No. 12), is in his rookie season and has posted 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games.
Buium and Rossi were Minnesota’s sixth- and seventh-highest scorers at the time of the trade.
Ohgren, 21, Minnesota’s 2022 first-round selection (No. 19), has seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 46 games this season but has gone without a goal in 18 games.
The Wild currently stand at 17-9-5, sitting third in the Central Division. After a rough start—3-6-3 through October 30—they have surged, going 14-3-2 over the last 19 games.
This trade reshapes both teams’ futures as they pursue different paths: Vancouver rebuild and Minnesota aiming to maintain playoff momentum while integrating new talent.
