Could the Wild Be In On Quinn Hughes Sweepstakes?

It seems like a foregone conclusion that the Vancouver Canucks are going to trade world-class defenseman Quinn Hughes at some point and possibly very soon. So, we just have to ask: Are the Minnesota Wild a team that should be in on this deal?

Whenever there is a chance to possibly get one of the best defensemen of his generation and a talent that is hardly ever even talked about in trade discussions, you have to at least wonder. Regardless of need or aspiration for this particular season, bringing in a player on Hughes's level is a no-brainer for just about every single team.

But, does it make sense for the Wild?

First, you have to think about the positional need. While Jonas Brodin is having a stellar bounceback season, it isn't a guarantee that he can do this for much longer; and then Jake Middleton and rookie Zeev Buium make up the rest of Minnesota's left side. Hughes would instantly make it so much better (duh, of course) but there isn't this desperation that some other teams like the Detroit Red Wings or Philadelphia Flyers might have to get a top blueliner.

And the elephant in the room is that he is most likely going to sign with the New Jersey Devils to play with his brothers when he hits free agency in 2027. Whatever team does trade for him this season will have no guarantee that he'll stay long-term -- and that doesn't really gel with what the Wild are doing. Minnesota is building this team for the long haul and doing a win-now move like that doesn't really work.

Throw in the likelihood that they're looking for a center or top prospect -- so that means getting rid of Marco Rossi or Zeev Buium for 18 months of Hughes -- and that all reports say that he wants to be traded to the Eastern Conference, the possibility of the elite defender coming to Minnesota is slim.

Basically, while it would be nice to think about the Wild just getting Hughes and making it work in a live-fast die-young sort of video game-esque fashion; it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense.

That's Wild

• Matt Boldy is getting his flowers for being a top-end offensive winger while being a go-to man on the penalty kill. [StarTribune]
• Why isn't star rookie defenseman Zeev Buium quarterbacking the Wild's power play more often? [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• Connor Bedard is continuing his dominant season as the Chicago Blackhawks blanked the New York Rangers. [TheScore]
• NHL Trade Tiers: What players could be on the move this season? [ESPN]
• The NHL is severely disappointed that the rink in Milan for the Olympics is not yet done. It's drama only hockey would have. [CBC]