The city lights of Vancouver were barely beginning to flicker on a brisk October night when the hockey world was shaken to its core by news that seemed almost too wild to believe. Quinn Hughes, the electrifying captain and face of the Canucks franchise, was no longer theirs. In a move that instantly rewrote the NHL landscape and left fans gasping for answers, Hughes was traded to the Minnesota Wild, setting off a cascade of speculation, disbelief, and anticipation across Canada and beyond. The Rogers Arena, which had just witnessed Hughes weaving through the Montreal Canadiens’ defense with his trademark agility, now stood as a silent witness to the end of an era.

This was not just another Friday night transaction. It was a blockbuster, the kind of deal that brings front offices to a standstill and sends shockwaves through locker rooms. The details read like something out of a video game: the Wild receive Quinn Hughes, a 26-year-old defenseman with 23 points in 26 games this season, while the Canucks gain a treasure chest of assets—Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a coveted 2026 first-round pick. Each name carries its own promise and mystery, but the headline belongs to Hughes, whose departure marks one of the most dramatic moments in recent NHL history.

Imagine the moment: Hughes, fresh off another display of offensive brilliance, is told he’s packing his bags for Minnesota. The city that watched him grow, cheered his every rush, and dreamed of a Stanley Cup with him at the helm, must now grapple with the reality of a future without their star. Fans scramble for their phones, desperate for confirmation, searching for meaning in the chaos. How could the Canucks let go of their seventh overall pick from 2018, a player who redefined what it meant to be a modern defenseman?

But the intrigue doesn’t stop with Hughes. Marco Rossi, the Wild’s ninth overall pick from 2020, brings his own flair—a 24-year-old centerman with 13 points in 17 games and a reputation for clutch play. Zeev Buium, just 20, is already drawing attention as a dynamic offensive defenseman, while Liam Ohgren, though scoreless in 18 games this season, remains a tantalizing prospect with first-round pedigree. Add a future first-round pick, and the Canucks’ front office has clearly set its sights on a long-term rebuild, gambling that youth and potential will outweigh the loss of their captain.

Yet, as the dust settles, questions multiply. What prompted such a seismic shift? Is this the beginning of a new dynasty in Minnesota, or the start of a painful rebuilding process in Vancouver? Will Hughes thrive in the Wild’s system, or will the Canucks’ gamble pay off in ways fans can’t yet imagine? The answers are hidden, waiting to be revealed as the season unfolds.

For now, the trade remains the talk of the league, a story that promises drama, heartbreak, and hope in equal measure. The only certainty is that the NHL will never be the same—and the full impact of this blockbuster deal is only just beginning to unfold.

Oct 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) handles the puck against the Montreal Canadiens in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

We have a blockbuster trade in the NHL involving the Vancouver Canucks. It is one of the biggest transactions to take place in the National Hockey League in a long time, particularly involving a Canadian team.

Star defenseman Quinn Hughes has been traded, from the Vancouver Canucks, to the Minnesota Wild.

Clearly, NHL teams like to pull off blockbuster trades on Friday nights.

Quinn Hughes traded in blockbuster deal involving the Vancouver Canucks

As for the details of the trade, here they are:

That’s not all!

Not only is Quinn Hughes traded, but several other big names are indeed involved in this massive transaction.

“To the Wild:

Quinn Hughes

To the Canucks:

2026 1st-round pick
Marco Rossi
Zeev Buium
Liam Ohgren”

Hughes, 26 years old, is a 5-foot-10 offensive defenseman who has recorded 23 points in 26 games this season. He was a seventh overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018.

Rossi, 24 years old, is a 5-foot-9 centerman who has recorded 13 points in 17 games this season. He was a ninth overall pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2020.

Buium, 20 years old, is a 6-foot offensive defenseman who has recorded 14 points in 31 games this season. He was a 12th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2024 (the same draft that featured Ivan Demidov).

Ohgren, 21 years old, is a 6-foot forward who has recorded 0 points in 18 games this season. He too is a first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild (19th overall in 2022).

More details to follow.