Wild acquire Quinn Hughes in blockbuster trade with Canucks

One of the NHL’s best defensemen is on the move in a Friday night blockbuster.The Wild acquired blueliner Quinn Hughes from the Canucks in exchange for three players and a 2026 first-round pick, the teams announced.Forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, along with defenseman Zeev Buium, are heading to Vancouver as part of the shocker.According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Devils made a “first offer” to the Canucks in a failed attempt to unite the 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner with his brother, star New Jersey forward Jack Hughes.Minnesota instead acquires the 26-year-old defenseman who does not become a free agent until after the 2026-27 season.Hughes, taken seventh overall in the 2018 draft, quickly became one of the league’s best at the position when he was an All-Rookie member in 2019-20.He’s recorded at least 50 points five times and has received Norris votes in five of his first seven seasons.

This season he has two goals and 21 assists in 26 games.He was named Vancouver’s 15th captain in franchise history before the start of 2023-24.Earlier this year, he became one of the first six players selected for Team USA’s Olympic squad.

The Wild, sitting in third in the Central Division, immediately bolster their defense as they look to make a deep run in the Western Conference.As for the basement-dwelling Canucks, the trade likely signals a rebuild as they acquire three former first-round picks in the deal.Rossi is the most established of the bunch and has 49 goals and 65 assists in 202 career games.

Buium, a first-rounder in 2024, has 14 points through his first 31 NHL games this season.Ohgren has seven points in 46 games....