What Happened
Quinn Hughes returned to Rogers Arena on Sunday with the Minnesota Wild for the first time since his December trade from the Vancouver Canucks. According to Sportsnet, the former Canucks captain was booed during warm-ups, and chants of 'Quinn you suck!' and 'Quit-er!' broke out in the first minute. Fans booed again as a first-period video tribute began, though the reaction turned mixed with whistles, clapping and some standing. Hughes raised his stick in salute from the bench while current and former teammates tapped their sticks on the boards.
Key Details
- Hughes was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota in December.
- Hundreds of fans, many in Hughes No. 43 Canucks jerseys, gathered at the glass before warm-ups.
- One fan held a sign reading 'And I thought I had commitment issues.'
- Hughes said Saturday he did not know what to expect and that booing would not change his feelings about Vancouver.
- The first-period tribute drew a mix of boos, whistles, clapping and a partial standing ovation.
What It Means
The reception shows the split among Vancouver fans over a trade that sent a homegrown captain and star defenceman to Minnesota. Hughes had said beforehand that whatever reaction came would not alter his appreciation for his time with the Canucks, and his stick salute during the tribute suggested the feeling was mutual. The night was an emotional marker on his first trip back to the arena where he played before the December deal.