Guerin Strikes: Making Sense of Shocking MN Wild Blockbuster Trade

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New Minnesota Wild defenseman, Quinn Hughes as a member of the Vancouver Canucks
Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

We’ve been waiting months for Minnesota Wild president of hockey operations to make his move. Bill Guerin hasn’t hid his desire to complete a blockbuster trade that he thinks can put the 2025-26 roster over the edge to to a true Stanley Cup contender.

But on Friday evening, the move we’ve all been holding our breaths for finally happened, and it kind of came out of nowhere. Yes, Marco Rossi was sent out in the deal, along with a first round draft pick. Liam Ohgren is going to Vancouver, as well.

To the surprise of fans across MN Wild territory, however, prized rookie defenseman Zeev Buium was also part of the package sent across the USA border.

Minnesota Wild land another superstar in trade with Vancouver

But you can’t get talent unless you are willing to give it up. And coming to St. Paul, in return for the haul youngsters going to the Canucks is freshly-turned 26-year-old, 2x All-Star and Norris Trophy winning defenseman, Quinn Hughes, who leaves Vancouver as their points leader, with 23 (2 goals, 21 assists).

According to Michael Russo (The Athletic), Hughes will make his Minnesota Wild debut on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. This is hands-down the biggest move Guerin has mad as this organization’s head decision-maker, and one that will define his tenure.

What this Western Conference landscape-changing deal tells us is that the waiting in St. Paul is over. The time to win is now. Craig Leipold and Bill Guerin are tired of first round exits and they clearly believe Quinn Hughes is the guy who can make them a true Stanley Cup contender.

How should Wild fans feel about blockbuster deal?

While the truckload of talent going back to Vancouver is a bit overwhelming, on paper, it’s Minnesota who comes away as the clear winner of this blockbuster.

In hockey, much like the other professional sports we all follow, the winner of major trades like this one are usually the team receiving the best player. And tonight, there is no arguing who the best player exchanged in this move was.

The Wild’s defense, as a whole, was pretty talented prior to this trade. With Hughes slotted into the first pairing next to any of Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon or Jonas Brodin, Minnesota’s blue line might be the best in hockey.

Throw in the Vancouver captain’s incredible ability to find scorers in scoring position… and it’s tantalizing to think about what Minnesota’s offensive attack could look like with Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov working alongside him.

Trade Winner: Minnesota Wild

There’s one caveat to the trade, of course. According to Russo, Hughes has not promised anything to the MN Wild, beyond the current term of his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

If Guerin cannot convince Quinn Hughes to stick around beyond 2026-27, this move could blow up in his face. Of course, Hughes is only a hair past 25, and demand for high-end blue line talent around the National Hockey League isn’t going away.

Should things not work out in this new arrangement, though, the Wild will have plenty of suitors interested in sending Guerin a similar talent-laden package, in order to become his third NHL team.

Related: MN Wild Recall Expensive Young Talent for Another NHL Opportunity

At just 26, Hughes already has 7+ seasons of NHL experience in his skates. In that time, he has played 459 games, averaging nearly a point per game, with 432 (61 goals, 371 assists).

Quinn’s goal-scoring production has been on the rise recently, too, potting 33 goals between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, more than he had in all of his first five seasons combined.

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