The 2024 Norris Trophy was acquired by the Wild in a blockbuster trade Friday that sent Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Öhgren and a first-round pick to Vancouver.
ST PAUL, Minn. — It didn’t take long for Quinn Hughes to make an impact as the 2024 Norris Trophy winner scored in the third period of his first game in a Minnesota Wild sweater Sunday.
The 26-year-old blue liner was acquired by the Wild in a blockbuster trade Friday that sent defenseman Zeev Buium, center Marco Rossi, winger Liam Öhgren and a first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks.
In his first game with Minnesota, Hughes played alongside Brock Faber on the No. 1 defensive pair and quarterbacked the top power-play line. He recorded two shots on goal in the first two periods before beating Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman on a wrist shot from just inside the left circle to put the Wild up 4-0. Kirill Kaprizov had two goals and an assist, while Matt Boldy added a goal of his own to help the Wild cruise to a 6-2 victory in St. Paul.
WELCOME TO QUINNESOTA pic.twitter.com/fqO9796iVC
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) December 15, 2025
Hughes had no trade-blocking protection in his current deal that pays him an average of $7.85 million annually. Hughes, who is widely considered the best player on the blue line behind only Colorado’s Cale Makar, is signed through the 2026-27 season before he can become an unrestricted free agent.
The Wild will not be allowed to extend Hughes until July 1, and it’s unclear if he would consider signing a new contract with them.
The Associated Press contributed to this article