A fan base clamoring for a splashy move finally got it Friday when the Wild acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in what might go down as the biggest trade in franchise history. It’s blockbuster deal that establishes the Wild as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. T he thought of adding Hughes to an already talented core should have everybody salivating at the potential damage this group can do once the playoffs roll around. So why was it met with so much backlash on social media? It seems, for a large portion of the fan base, the excitement of getting Hughes, perhaps the second best defenseman in the world, was outweighed by concern over they had to give up to get him. The package general manager Bill Guerin put together was substantial. He knew he couldn’t get cute if he wanted a chance at Hughes, so he offered up center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, winger Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first round pick. That massive haul was a small price to pay. He’s arguably a Top 10 player in the NHL — a former Norris Trophy winner who brings a dynamic element to the blue line that the Wild have frankly never had. To get a great player, the Wild had to be willing to give up some good players. It’s as simple as that. Most of the apprehension from the fan base seems to be rooted in moving on Buium before getting to see him as a finished product. Those worries should disappear when considering that even if Buium were to reach his full potential, which is far from a guarantee, he almost certainly won’t be better than Hughes in his current form. That’s how good Hughes is for those who might not be familiar with his game. He’s a smooth skater with the ability to start a breakout all by himself. He’s also incredibly gifted in the offensive zone without sacrificing anything in the defensive zone. The production Hughes has put up since reaching the NHL speaks for itself. He has amassed 432 points (61 goals, 371 assists) across 459 career games. The only blue liner with more points than Hughes since he entered the NHL is fellow superstar defenseman Cale Makar, the straw that stirs the drink for the Colorado Avalanche on the backend, who has a chance to go down as the best to ever do it. The firepower Hughes brings to the Wild will be on display for the first time when makes his team debut against the Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena. He will join an extremely talented core that features superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and star winger Matt Boldy leading the charge, to go along with a number of other talented contributors, such as center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Brock Faber, who are perfectly cast in their current roles. That doesn’t even take into account the stellar goaltending tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt between the pipes. The fact that the Wild were able to add somebody like Hughes to the mix can’t be overstated. It has opened the Stanley Cup window for the first time in, maybe, forever. That in and of itself makes this trade worth doing — 100 times out of 100. Though it’s widely speculated Hughes eventually wants to sign the New Jersey Devils so he can play with his brothers, the Wild now have a chance to prove themselves to him that they are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender who will also have the power to offer him more money than anyone else. In the current collective bargaining agreement, which is still in order this season, Hughes can sign an eight-year max contract this summer. In the future collective bargaining agreement, which kicks in ahead of next season, Hughes can only sign a six-year max contract next summer. A common refrain among those within the fan base that aren’t sold on the trade is the hypothetical question, “What if he leaves?” Counterpoint: What if he stays? Not only do the Wild have a chance to prove to Hughes that it’s worth sticking around for the foreseeable future, they have a chance to do so while also getting to chase a Stanley Cup in the process. That wouldn’t have been possible if Guerin didn’t have the guts to pull the trigger on a trade that will define the rest of his career. He did so with an understanding that it’s impossible to overpay when a generational talent is on the table. He deserves credit for that, regardless of it results in hoisting hardware. Related Articles Late-game magic lifts Wild past Senators Bill Guerin: ‘Right time’s always now’ for Quinn Hughes trade Christmas comes early as Wild trade for star Quinn Hughes from Vancouver Wild recall David Jiricek with Jonas Brodin questionable vs. Ottawa Wild comeback cools off streaking Stars ...read more read less