How the Quinn Hughes Trade Could Reshape the NHL Power Landscape Forever
Winner: Quinn Hughes
Before the Canucks pulled the trigger on this trade, Jim Rutherford presented Hughes with the possible move to the Wild. Hughes, who didn’t have any formal trade protection on his contract, took time to consider Minnesota as a destination and ultimately gave the Canucks the green light.
The best-case scenario for Hughes may have been a trade to New Jersey to play with his brothers, but moving to any contending team has to be an exciting opportunity for him. Hughes is obsessed with winning, and you could tell how frustrated he was with the hopeless situation of the 32nd-place Canucks, who are poised to miss the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. NHL players’ primes aren’t very long — Vancouver could have easily dragged this situation out until the summer, which would have meant another wasted season for Hughes. A delayed trade would have meant months of additional uncertainty and his future being a 24/7 talking point.
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