This post was originally published on this site.
Minnesota Wild
1 of 2
Good luck finding an NHL team that couldn’t use a player like Quinn Hughes. He quenches a particular thirst for the Minnesota Wild. Organizational depth on defense behind Jonas Brodin and Brock Faber was lacking, particularly in puck possession.
The team put its hopes and dreams into Zeev Buium this year. The 19-year-old is going to be a heck of a hockey player, but top-four minutes for a hopeful contender have proven too much to ask of him in this stage of his career.
Prior to this trade, the Wild sat in a very familiar spot. The Wild are fifth in the Western Conference by points percentage and are a safe projection for the playoffs and a competitive first-round matchup, but not talented enough to be a serious contender for the Stanley Cup. Kirill Kaprizov is not enough. Good-but-not-great defines the last decade of Wild hockey.
In Quinn Hughes, the Wild gets a serious injection of talent. The 26-year-old is comfortably a top-three NHL defenseman. His puck transporting skills and offensive-zone playmaking are superlative. His defensive play is also underrated because of stigmas against size. He defends well with his stick, his speed and footwork make closing gaps a breeze, and his keep-away proficiency means the other team doesn’t spend much time with the puck in the offensive zone.
Minnesota’s power play is now downright scary. Hughes, ranked 3rd by PP assists over the previous three seasons, will join Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, and Matt Boldy to create a dynamic group that will move and shoot pucks faster than brains can process.
Despite their success this season (39 points in 31 games), Minnesota’s offense has been lackluster and heavily reliant on the power play, and even then they rank 23rd of 32 NHL teams in goals-per-60. Hughes will add both possession-driving and offensive-zone production to the equation.
The trickle-down effect could be significant as well. Faber may be a perfect partner for Hughes on the right side. He has the stamina to play the heavy minutes Hughes’ sidekick will need, and Faber is an instinctual two-way defender who may not be a great offensive producer, but will help Hughes drive play and tilt the ice towards more opportunities for him to create offense.
This would free Jonas Brodin on the left side to move down a pairing with Jared Spurgeon, who struggled this season trying to carry Buium. Brodin is a true shutdown defenseman who will free the 5’9″ to focus on his offensive strengths.
Does Hughes alone make the Wild a true contender? They might still be a piece or two short. The Wild loses some forward depth from this move and, in particular, now needs a credible top-nine center.
There are also many questions about Hughes’ long-term future. Minnesota was able to acquire him because Hughes had no trade protection, and Hughes’ camp reportedly has given the Wild “no assurances” that Hughes will re-sign before becoming an unrestricted free agent in July 2027. His preference to move East was an open secret. Does Minnesota satisfy that bullet point? Is his connection to GM Bill Guerin and a pretty good Wild roster enough to keep him from chasing something better or more familiar in New Jersey or elsewhere?
If this ends up being only a two-year rental, then Minnesota gave up a whole lot for that privilege. Especially while not being a true contender. Rossi had 60 points last season at the age of 23 and was playing well this year. Buium is a borderline blue-chip prospect who has the tools to become a No. 1 defenseman. Liam Ohgren is a former first-round pick with a high likelihood of making the NHL and decent odds of turning into a top-six forward. Plus, a first-round pick.
This is boom-or-bust for Minnesota. If it doesn’t work, there’s no shaking it off. The Wild just gutted most of their top youth to make this happen. But you know what? Why not go for broke? The Wild have been far too careful in recent seasons, trying to trade second- and third-round picks for upgrades between the margins.
Any chance of moving into a new tier required the addition of a bona fide impact player, and Hughes is as good as it gets. If Guerin can convince Hughes to commit beyond 2027, then the Wild just pulled the rug out from a number of other teams in incredible fashion.