Scout’s Analysis: What the Canucks bought out of the Quinn Hughes commerce

It’s the largest hockey commerce in latest reminiscence — and maybe probably the most consequential for 2 franchises that we are going to see all 12 months.

It’s not day by day one of many high gamers within the NHL is traded, particularly when he is not even within the last 12 months of his contract.

But that is precisely what occurred on Friday night time, when the Quinn Hughes commerce from Vancouver to Minnesota shook the hockey world.

For the Wild, it is a huge swing as common supervisor Bill Guerin pushes in his younger chips so as to add the famous person and try to take a run on the Stanley Cup. Competing in a tough Central Division led by a few well-established contenders in Dallas and Colorado, the Wild are hoping Hughes propels them into one other tier.

Finally free from years of cap constraints for purchasing out Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, Guerin was in search of a chance and located it right here.

Without any assure Hughes needs to remain in Minnesota past his present contract, the Wild will be capable of take not less than two playoff runs with Hughes on their blue line. He will probably be eligible to increase his contract this summer season earlier than changing into a free agent in 2027, however the benefit Minnesota has is that will probably be in a position to provide Hughes a monster contract earlier than new guidelines kick in that additional restrict time period and signing bonus construction.

Still, an ideal day for one franchise brings disappointment to the opposite.

This is the tip of an period in Vancouver that actually wasn’t so long as it ought to have been. From his rookie season in 2019-20 to his 16-point playoff displaying within the 2020 bubble to a 10-point post-season efficiency in 2024 and a Norris Trophy, Hughes grew to become the most effective participant the Canucks have ever recognized. But in simply his seventh season with the crew, at 26 years outdated, he is gone. The phrase “rebuild” now floats via corridors.

What the Canucks get out of the commerce is an intriguing bundle of youth. Marco Rossi is an ascending younger centre, winger Liam Ohgren was a first-rounder three years in the past and Minnesota’s first-round decide will give Vancouver one other prospect. Zeev Buium is likely to be the crux of this deal, a rookie defenceman who has the unenviable activity of changing Hughes.

With Ohgren and Buium set to debut with the Canucks on Sunday (in opposition to Hughes’ brothers’ crew within the Devils), and Rossi a chance to return from harm, Jason Bukala provides you a deeper scouting perspective on how the brand new trio initiatives as NHLers.

The Canucks had been backed right into a nook when it got here to Hughes’ future. The group has handled greater than its share of sad gamers lately and the Hughes situation was on the verge of turning into an out-of-control, grass-fire distraction if it wasn’t addressed before later. 

Now, probably the most dynamic participant in franchise historical past is gone. 

It’s tough for me to wrap my thoughts across the truth this was a crew that in 2024 seemed to be heading in a constructive path after ending atop its division for the primary time since 2013.

Today is a tough day for Canucks followers, however the sport goes on, and below the circumstances, I’ve to confess Vancouver’s administration crew did properly to maximise Hughes’ worth within the commerce with Minnesota. 

Here’s a have a look at what Canucks followers can now sit up for with the arrival of Rossi, Buium, Ohgren and a first-round draft decide.

Marco Rossi: 5-foot-9, 183 kilos, left-shot centre

Rossi is nearing a return from harm and when he arrives in Vancouver he’ll instantly fill a void on the centre-ice place within the Canucks’ top-six ahead group. 

The Austrian is a calculating participant who’s dependable in all three zones. He’s finest described as equal-parts shooter and distributor, however he additionally isn’t the form of ahead who will electrify the Canucks fan base with explosive ability off the push or via the impartial zone. Rossi depends on his high-end hockey sense to learn how performs are creating and reacts accordingly. He has nice puck contact and imaginative and prescient general. Despite his stature, he is sturdy and powerful in site visitors and dealing off the boards whereas making performs to the online. 

Rossi averaged 18:06 of ice time per sport with the Wild. Almost all of his shifts got here at even power and on the facility play. I imagine he can contribute on the penalty kill if given the chance. An space that should enhance is Rossi’s capacity to win faceoffs, as he has a historical past of successful lower than 50 per cent of his attracts.

Rossi was the second main scorer for the Wild final season (24 objectives, 36 assists). Canucks followers will particularly admire his imaginative and prescient and playmaking on the facility play.

Zeev Buium, 6-foot-2, 181 kilos, left-shot defenceman

Buium, a 20-year-old rookie defenceman, is among the best prospects I’ve seen lately. He’s a confirmed winner who was a part of an NCAA championship program on the University of Denver and the gold-medal-winning Team USA world junior squad. 

A two-way defenceman, Buium performs fast and quick. He’s aggressive taking away time and house defensively and energetic pinching down the wall within the offensive zone to increase performs. He was averaging simply over 18 minutes per sport with the Wild and was being deployed at even power and the facility play. Buium has contributed three objectives and 11 assists thus far this season however he’s additionally a minus-9. Young defenders take time to regulate to the velocity and construction of the NHL sport, and Buium is a greater defender than that stat signifies, however it’s going to take time for him to regulate on the defensive aspect. 

I view Buium as a future top-pairing defenceman for the Canucks. In time he’ll development in the direction of being an entire participant. He has the flexibility to play properly over 20 minutes per night time and be utilized in a wide range of roles. 

Liam Ohgren, 6-foot-1, 196 kilos, left-shot winger

Ohgren is adjusting to life within the NHL. The nineteenth general decide of the 2022 draft, he proved he can play an influence/goal-scoring type within the AHL final season when he produced 19 objectives and 18 assists in solely 41 video games. 

Ohgren was averaging lower than 10 minutes per sport with the Wild and has but to register a degree this season. All of his ice time got here at even power. Despite his very restricted deployment, Ohgren supplied Minnesota with some physicality within the backside of its lineup. He was credited with 29 hits in his restricted function. 

I challenge Ohgren as a third-line winger who will, in time, present secondary offence and proceed to push again bodily. He isn’t the tallest prospect, however he’s loads robust and keen to battle within the arduous areas of the ice. 

The Wild clearly have set their sights on competing for a Stanley Cup, and I don’t anticipate the crew falling off after buying Hughes, so the first-round decide they traded to Vancouver is prone to land between 22 and 32 within the draft. 

Here’s a have a look at what the Canucks draft board seems like for the following three cycles after the Hughes deal:

I not too long ago revealed my first draft rankings for the 2026 class. For perception into who the Canucks would possibly goal in that vary of the first-round, right here is the hyperlink to my rankings.