What Happened
Quinn Hughes addressed reporters in Seattle on Saturday before the Minnesota Wild's game against the Kraken, looking ahead to his first game in Vancouver since the Canucks traded him 10 months ago. Hughes said he does not take any expected hostility personally and that his feelings about Vancouver will not change. He described his six and a half seasons with the Canucks as formative for both his career and his character, and said he remains grateful to the organization.
Key Details
- Hughes was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota 10 months ago.
- Sunday's game at Rogers Arena will be his first there since the trade.
- Hughes won the Norris Trophy at age 24 with the Canucks.
- Former president Jim Rutherford said Hughes would not have re-signed under any circumstances.
- Hughes helped Team USA defeat Canada in the Olympic gold-medal game.
What It Means
Hughes returns to a market where he was the franchise's most decorated defenseman, but his departure followed a refusal to commit to an extension and management's decision to trade him. His comments frame the return around appreciation rather than grievance, while the reception itself remains uncertain given the circumstances of the split.
What's Next
Hughes and the Wild face the Canucks at Rogers Arena on Sunday, his first game in Vancouver since the trade.