Quinn Hughes has been making waves with the Minnesota Wild, exciting fans and teammates alike after a mid-season trade from Vancouver.
Hughes’ Warm Welcome in Minnesota
Pregame warm-ups have become a popular attraction, with fans eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite players. Quinn Hughes received a loud ovation from fans when he skated on and off the ice for warm-ups before the game against the Boston Bruins at Grand Casino Arena. “It was pretty special, honestly,” Hughes said after his Wild debut. “I wasn’t expecting that. But that was very cool. I know it’s a hockey market, but that was exciting.”
Hughes also scored a goal 54 seconds into the third period to push the Wild lead to 4-0 on the way to a 6-2 victory against the Bruins. He’s the 32nd player, and sixth defenseman, to score in his Wild debut.
“As I get going here and feel more comfortable and get my legs under me, this is going to be exciting,” Hughes said at the time.
Impact on the Team
The Wild were already on the upswing following a 11-1-2 November. The trade for Hughes drove excitement throughout the Minnesota fanbase and within the Wild dressing room. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson noted, “When Quinn came in, we got a little bit more swagger, and we’re building on it,” after an overtime victory against Montreal on Feb. 2.
Record-Breaking Performance
Hughes has made a mark on the Minnesota Wild franchise record book in less than a full season. His assist in the third period of the April 2 game against his former team gave Hughes 46 assists in 43 games with the Wild this season. This assist clinched the Wild’s spot in the playoffs and set a new franchise record for assists in a single season by a defenseman, surpassing Ryan Suter’s previous record of 45 assists in 78 games in 2017-18. Hughes also reached 50 points (4-46=50) with the Wild in that game, becoming the fastest player in franchise history to reach the 50-point milestone.
- 46 assists in 43 games with the Wild this season
- New franchise record for assists in a single season by a defenseman
- Fastest player in franchise history to reach the 50-point milestone
Since arriving in Minnesota, Hughes is one of the top players in the league in recording assists. Hughes also needs one more point this season to set the franchise record for the most points by a defenseman in a single season.
Reflections on the Trade
“I think that it’s not easy being traded, especially when you’ve been somewhere for so long,” Hughes said ahead of the game against Vancouver on April 2. “But I felt like in January I was playing as good as I can. Felt like I played as good as I can at the Olympics.” Hughes and his younger brother, Jack, had a whirlwind combination of hockey and media appearances – including a spot on Saturday Night Live – following the Olympic break.
Before facing his old team recently, Hughes spoke about his experience so far in Minnesota, saying how he’s loved it, being around his team.
Hughes’ performance and integration into the Wild suggest an exciting future for both the player and the team.