Seismic NHL trade sends Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a massive package of prospects and a 2026 1st.

The Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild completed a blockbuster deal Friday that sends the Canucks captain and elite right-shot defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota.

Hughes, one of the league’s most dynamic puck movers from the backend and a former Norris Trophy finalist, now joins a Wild squad looking to add creativity and boost offense from the blue line.

In return, Vancouver receives multiple assets: a 2026 first-round pick, center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium and forward Liam Ohgren. All four pieces offer the Canucks a mixture of NHL experience and top.prospect upside as the franchise pivots toward a new chapter.

At 26 years old and signed through 2026-27 with a cap hit north of $7.5 million, Hughes was the face of the Canucks’ competitive window. His ability to chew up minutes against top competition and drive offense made him one of the most valuable blueliners in the game, and losing him signals a significant strategic shift for Vancouver.

Quinn Hughes trade reshapes Vancouver Canucks future

For Minnesota, the acquisition addresses a specific need. The Wild have shown steady defense and goaltending, yet they lacked consistent transition offense from their blueline. Hughes changes that dynamic, giving Minnesota elite zone-entry passing and power play vision that few defenders in the league possess.

For the Canucks, the move kickstarts a rebuild, likely putting a price tag on every member of the current roster, which could create some interesting opportunities for a Leafs team seeking upgrades on defense and at forward.

Players like Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson could be of interest to the Leafs, who have long been attempting to upgrade their top-six. Conor Garland also represents a good option for Leafs GM Brad Treliving.

On defense, someone like Filip Hronek could add something the Leafs’ defense lacks — puck movement and offensive output.

It will be interesting to see which names will be heading out of Vancouver next, and whether or not the Leafs will be involved in any upcoming moves with their Canadian rival.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily