Minnesota
Minnesota Wild acquires NHL star Quinn Hughes from Vancouver Canucks in a blockbuster trade
The Minnesota Wild made an all-in move for one of the NHL’s best players in his prime, acquiring defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in a blockbuster trade — their boldest action yet toward ending a decade-long skid of playoff series defeats.
The teams announced the seismic move on Friday night, after the 2024 Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman had been the most talked-about trade candidate over the past couple of weeks. Minnesota sent center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, winger Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft to suddenly rebuilding Vancouver to complete the deal.
The trade was the second major swap of the day, after two-time Stanley Cup Final runner-up Edmonton finally made a move for a goaltender, acquiring Tristan Jarry from Pittsburgh.
Rossi (24), Ohgren (21) and Buium (20) fit the mold of the young talent the Canucks were speculated to be targeting if they were going to trade Hughes. Rossi (2020), Ohgren (2022) and Buium (2024) were all recent first-round draft picks by the Wild.
“Quinn played hard, led by example and did a lot of very good things for the Canucks,” Vancouver general manager Patrik Allvin said. “Trading away a player of this caliber is never an easy decision to make, but it was one we had to do to make our team better. We are so excited to add a solid centre in Marco, a good young blueliner in Zeev and a versatile forward in Liam. This year’s draft is a strong one, so acquiring a first-round pick was also a big part of this deal.”
Hughes had no trade-blocking protection in his current deal that pays him an average of $7.85 million annually. Hughes, who is 26 and widely considered the best at player on the blue line behind only Colorado’s Cale Makar, is signed through the 2026-27 season before he can become an unrestricted free agent.
The Wild will not be allowed to extend Hughes until July 1, and it’s unclear if he would consider signing a new contract with them. There has been plenty of buzz around the league that Quinn wants to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, with the New Jersey Devils.
They could potentially be teammates on the U.S. Olympic team, either in February in Milan or in 2030. Wild general manager Bill Guerin runs USA Hockey’s management team.
The long-term outlook for Hughes can wait until next summer, though. The Wild are focused on challenging the two top teams ahead of them in the loaded Central Division, rivals that happen to also have the top two records in the NHL: Colorado and Dallas.
The season-long celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary would be a lot more meaningful if the Wild can finally advance in the playoffs, having lost nine straight series after a first-round victory over St. Louis in 2015. The Wild have passed the second round just once in their entire existence, when they were swept in the Western Conference finals by Anaheim in 2003.
Hughes is a significant upgrade to Minnesota’s blue line, anchored by captain and 16-year veteran Jared Spurgeon, smooth-skating 14-year veteran Jonas Brodin and young stalwart Brock Faber. The emergence of rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt this season has given the Wild a reliable tandem with Filip Gustavsson in the net, with star winger Kirill Kaprizov leading the attack after recently signing the richest contract in hockey history to stay in the “State of Hockey” through 2034.
After a rough start, the Wild are 14-3-2 since Nov. 1. They host Ottawa on Saturday and Boston on Sunday night, with the latter game likely the more realistic one for Hughes to debut.
Hughes had two goals, 21 assists and 32 blocked shots in 23 games this season with the last-in-the-NHL Canucks. When he won the Norris Trophy two seasons ago, Hughes had 17 goals and 75 assists, both single-season franchise records for defensemen and the most among all blue liners in the league. Drafted seventh overall in 2018 out of Michigan, the native of Orlando, Florida, spent time growing up in the Boston and Toronto areas while his father, a hockey coach, moved around.
This was Hughes’ third season as Vancouver’s captain, and his abrupt exit paves the way for more change 11 months since the trade of J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers and in the aftermath of coach Rick Tocchet’s departure.
“With the circumstances surrounding J.T. and now Quinn, we are fortunate to acquire these very good young players from Minnesota,” Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said. “They will be a key part of the rebuild that we are currently in, giving us a bright future moving forward. The hockey club will continue to build with talented young players using that as a blueprint to become a contender sooner rather than later.”
Minnesota
A couple mild days before chance of snow returns to northern Minnesota
We are tracking more clouds around the Arrowhead today, but temperatures are warming up nicely to wrap up the weekend. Overnight lows were kept milder by a bit of a breeze, and that west wind will continue to push warmer air in, with sustained winds at 10 to 20 miles per hour today. By the afternoon, highs look to top out in the upper 40s and low 50s throughout the Northland.
Tomorrow will be a sunnier but cooler day for much of the Arrowhead. Winds will be rather similar to today, with temperatures remaining a little cooler, in the low 40s for the afternoon. However as we go through the rest of the week, we cool down rather quickly. Monday night will bring in a chance for snow across much of the region, and by Tuesday, we will be returning back below the freezing mark with a bit of a chill that will last through the middle of March, with highs in the 20s and 30s through next weekend.
I grew up in Central Minnesota, and my in weather and storms led me to pursue my passion for meteorology. I got my Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University, and my experiences with forecasting there led me to start my career as a Meteorologist for WDAY as well as The Forum.
Minnesota
How To Watch Orlando Magic-Minnesota Timberwolves Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines & More
The Orlando Magic have an opportunity to continue their surge on the road in Minnesota, where they’ll look to continue a win streak that began in L.A. with wins over the Clippers and Lakers.
The Magic are on a two-game weekend road trip that’s all business, featuring this contest against the Timberwolves and a matchup with the Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday.
Orlando guard Anthony Black and center Wendell Carter Jr. returned from one-game absences to help the Magic defeat the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Thursday behind 19 points from Tristan da Silva.
Minnesota is perfect through three March dates and brings a five-game win streak into this matchup with the Magic. An 8-1 run dating back to Feb. 9 has lifted the Timberwolves into third place in the Western Conference, although their lead on current No. 6 seed Los Angeles (Lakers) is just two games.
The Magic have fallen behind the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division by a half-game, although they hold a tie-braker since they have defeated Miami all four times they’ve played. The Magic have slipped to eighth in the East. The entire Southeast would be headed for the play-in tournament if the season ended today.
Orlando is 13-15 on the road 13-9 against Western Conference foes. Minnesota is 22-11 at home and a solid 16-6 against Eastern Conference competition.
Vitals – How to Watch Magic at Timberwolves
Game date, time and location: Sunday, March 7, 3:10 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Magic), FanDuel Sports Network North (Timberwolves)
Radio: FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM (Magic), KFXN (Timberwolves)
Magic hope to avoid three-game losing streak vs. Wolves
The Orlando Magic (33-28) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-23) in the first matchup between these teams this season. After being swept in last season’s meetings, Orlando looks to win at Target Center for the sixth time in seven tries since they’ve had a lot of success there under Jamahl Mosley.
The Timberwolves won last season’s contest at home, which happens to be the most recent matchup in the series, 118-111 on March 14. Paolo Banchero scored 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss, while Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 28 points.
Orlando had won five straight in Minneapolis prior to last season and are 8-5 over the last 13 against the Timberwolves. That has helped the Magic open a 44-27 lead in the all-time series, which dates back to 1989-90.
Betting Lines (via DraftKings)
Spread: Timberwolves -6.5 (-112), Magic +6.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Timberwolves -270, Magic +220
Total: 223.5 (Over -112, Under -108)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
PROJECTED STARTERS
MAGIC
G/F Desmond Bane
F Paolo Banchero
C Wendell Carter Jr.
G Jalen Suggs
G Anthony Black
TIMBERWOLVES
F Jaden McDaniels
F Julius Randle
C Rudy Gobert
G Donte DiVincenzo
G Anthony Edwards
INJURY REPORT
MAGIC
Jonathan Isaac: Out – Left Knee Soreness
Franz Wagner: Out – Left High Ankle Sprain Injury Management
Alex Morales: Out – G League (Two-way)
Colin Castleton: Out – G League (Two-way)
TIMBERWOLVES
Kyle Anderson: Questionable – Right Knee Soreness
Joan Beringer: Out – G League (On Assignment)
Rocco Zikarsky: Available – G League (Two-way)
Enrique Freeman: Out – G League (Two-way)
Zyon Pullin: Out – G League (Two-way)
Minnesota
McCarron has goal, assist in debut, Wild defeat Golden Knights | Minnesota Wild
Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal and an assist, and Mitch Marner scored for the Golden Knights (29-20-14), who have lost four of their past five. Akira Schmid made 20 saves.
“It’s a lot of the same, right? We get behind. We have a bad stretch. One becomes two, becomes three,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We should be better than that. We’re more of a veteran group.”
Zuccarello put the Wild up 1-0 at 5:18 of the second period, scoring on a breakaway after a Noah Hanifin turnover with a wrist shot over Schmid’s glove that went bar down.
Bogosian pushed the lead to 2-0 at 8:07 with a slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle that beat Schmid to the blocker side.
McCarron scored to extend it to 3-0 just 18 seconds later at 8:25. Brock Faber sent a wrist shot on net from the right point, and McCarron tipped it in as he battled in front.
“Just throw it there and let him make a play. That’s obviously a big boy, and he showed he’s got skill to go with it,” Faber said. “He played great. That’s a really, really big add for us.”
Dorofeyev cut the deficit to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 2:17 of the third period, roofing a backdoor pass from Jack Eichel over Gustavsson’s glove from in tight for his team-leading 30th of the season.
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