The hockey world got flipped upside down as the Vancouver Canucks traded all-star d-man Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.
Monster deal: Quinn Hughes traded to Minnesota for 2026 1st, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and Zeev Buium.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 13, 2025
The San Jose Sharks are at the precipice of becoming a playoff team in the next few years, and adding Hughes to the mix certainly would’ve sped that timeline up. All nice as that would be, the Sharks not acquiring the defenseman is better for the franchise’s long-term goals.
The Wild gave up top young talent and a first-round pick to get the superstar, something the Sharks very well could’ve matched. Sam Dickinson, who was picked one spot ahead of Zeev Buium, would’ve likely needed to be part of any trade package the Sharks sent to the Canucks. The Wild traded Buium after beginning his first full season in the NHL with terrific success. In 31 games this season, Buium has three goals and 11 assists.
Other top San Jose Sharks prospects, like Quentin Musty, Igor Chernyshov, and potentially Collin Graf, could be seen as options in a metaphorical trade for Hughes.
Throw in one of the Sharks’ two first-round picks this season, likely the one from the Edmonton Oilers, and the value of what the Canucks got from the Wild is pretty much matched by the Sharks.
The difference between the Wild and the Sharks? The Wild are in win-now mode. They re-signed Kirill Kaprizov to the NHL’s richest contract in history and have room to spare. Hughes is a free agent in 2027.
The Minnesota Wild have Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, the NHL’s second-best goaltending tandem in terms of save percentage, multiple impact players under age 25 and salary cap room to work with this summer.
The Stanley Cup window is open.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 13, 2025
It is no secret that Hughes wants to join his two brothers, Jack and Luke, at somepoint in his NHL career. Both play for the New Jersey Devils. A rising salary cap and desire to win with his family on the other side of the country would make it difficult for the Sharks to have a compelling case to re-sign Hughes.
Given the known desire to play with Jack and Luke, there are now immediate questions about whether Hughes will even want to re-sign with Minnesota. Without knowing an extension can be done with a top-2 defenseman in the league, the San Jose Sharks did the right thing by not giving up core future pieces for a rental before they were ready to win.
Many teams were reportedly in on acquiring Hughes, but the Sharks were never mentioned. Trading him inside the Pacific Division would also seem complicated for the Canucks. If that was done and the Sharks re-signed Hughes, Vancouver would then have to face their star many times after having to trade him due to roster mismanagement frustration.
San Jose has gone 1-1 against the Wild this season, with their final matchup on New Year’s Eve.
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