Quinn Hughes will make his much-anticipated return to Vancouver on Sunday night time when the Minnesota Wild face the Canucks.
Hughes, the seventh total choose of the 2018 NHL Draft, performed 459 profession video games with the Canucks. He was named workforce captain at the beginning of the 2023-24 season and went on to win the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s high defenseman.
Hughes was traded to Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2025, for heart Marco Rossi, left winger Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round draft choose. He made an prompt influence for the Wild, serving to cause them to 104 factors and a first-round playoff victory over the Dallas Stars. He additionally performed a key function in main the US to a gold medal within the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Now the query is that this: What sort of reception will Hughes get in his return to Vancouver? His Olympic teammate, Brady Tkachuk, was loudly booed on Wednesday in his return to Ottawa after requesting and receiving a commerce to Florida the place he may play together with his brother, Matthew.
“Nonetheless I am acquired will not have an effect on how I really feel about Vancouver tomorrow, the following day, or 5 years down the road,” Hughes instructed reporters previous to the Wild’s 5-1 victory on the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. “Like, I simply really feel gratitude, and one night time … will not have an effect on 6 1/2 years of how I loved that place.
“I used to be actually fortunate to start out my profession there, and simply being in a Canadian market was a very particular factor for me. I am grateful for the chance and 6 1/2 years there.”
Vancouver, final within the Pacific Division with an NHL-low 5 factors, brings a nine-game dropping streak (0-8-1) into the competition. The Canucks final received a sport on Oct. 3 in opposition to Calgary, 4-1.
First-year Vancouver head coach Manny Malhotra is hoping the return of Hughes will deliver some power to the constructing on Sunday.
“We clearly want to offer them one thing to cheer about, and we have seen it firsthand,” Malhotra stated. “When the followers are into the sport, and once we get them on our aspect early, that may be a significant benefit for us.”
Canucks ahead Brock Boeser stated he believes his previous teammate ought to obtain a constructive response when he takes the ice for the Wild.
“Personally, I believe he ought to get a great welcome again,” Boeser stated. “I imply, he gave it his all, and simply because he desires to try to play elsewhere, I really feel you should not maintain it over his head. He gave it his all each time he was in a Canucks uniform, and which means quite a bit.”
Hughes has two targets and 12 assists in 12 video games this season. He picked up an help 26 seconds into Saturday’s sport on Kirill Kaprizov’s twelfth objective.
Blake Coleman scored two targets and Jesper Wallstedt made 23 saves to steer the Wild, who snapped a two-game dropping streak.
“I assumed the previous few video games may’ve gone our means too, however they did not,” Wallstedt stated. “Sturdy on us to not change something and simply carry on going.”
The win improved Minnesota to 1-1-1 on its five-game street journey, which finally ends up on Tuesday at Utah.
–Subject Stage Media
