Quinn Hughes will visit Vancouver on Sunday for the first time since the Canucks traded him to the Minnesota Wild, and the superstar defenseman is unsure about the reception he'll receive.
"I don't know what to expect ... but I'm going to face that when it comes," Hughes said Saturday before the Wild played the Seattle Kraken, according to NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika. "Whether I'm booed or whatnot, that won't change how I feel about that place and how grateful I am for the experiences I've had there."
Hughes, 27, was traded last December to the Wild for a package that included forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, which the Canucks used to select Adam Novotny. Buium and the Canucks have since agreed to an eight-year, $75-million extension.
The Wild acquired Hughes with one-and-a-half seasons remaining on his contract, and the two sides haven't reached a new deal. However, the two-time All-Star said he's optimistic he'll stay with Minnesota beyond the 2026-27 campaign.
"I'm really enjoying it right now and just taking my time, and we'll see where it goes," the 2024-25 Norris Trophy winner said. "I wouldn't be surprised if something happens soon."
He added: "My two feet are planted here in Minnesota."
Hughes has played 59 games for the Wild since being dealt, recording seven goals and 59 assists while averaging 27:49 of ice time.
Selected seventh overall by the Canucks in the 2018 NHL Draft, Hughes spent eight years in Vancouver and served as the team's captain before the trade.
