Former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes set for return to Vancouver

Quinn Hughes knows he could get a frosty reception when he steps onto the ice at Rogers Arena on Sunday.

The former Canucks captain will be playing his first game back in Vancouver and he’s well aware the passionate fan base could harbour some harsh feelings.

“I don’t know what to expect too much (on Sunday) but we’ll face that when it comes,” said the star defenceman. “Whether I’m booed or whatnot, it won’t change how I feel about that place and how grateful I am for the experiences I had there.”

Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in the 2018 draft, Hughes played six-and-a-half seasons in Vancouver before a blockbuster trade sent him to the Minnesota Wild in December. 

The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Patrik Allvin, then Vancouver’s general manager, said Hughes had made it clear he was unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Canucks following the expiration of the six-year, US$47.1-million deal he signed in Oct. 2021. 

“I was really lucky to start my career there and just being in a Canadian market was a really special thing for me,” Hughes said Saturday before the Wild faced the Kraken in Seattle. 

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity and six-and-a-half years there. A lot of the reasons I’m the person I am and the player I am is because of the experiences I had in Vancouver … A lot of people there allowed me to flourish and grow.”

The 27-year-old blue liner from Orlando, Fla., finished last season putting up five goals and 48 assists across 48 regular-season games for the Wild. 

He’s off to a solid start to the 2026-27 campaign, too, with 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) over 12 games.

Hughes has yet to sign an extension with the Wild, but mused on Saturday that he “wouldn’t be surprised if something happens soon.”

Hughes’ departure left a gaping hole in Vancouver’s lineup.

He’d long been the team’s top talent, tallying 432 points over 459 regular-season games and setting a new record for points by a Canucks defenceman. 

In 2024, he won the Norris Trophy — awarded annually to the league’s top defenceman — after helping Vancouver win a Pacific Division title and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Asked how he’d like to be remembered in Vancouver, the former Canuck said that’s out of his control.

“I felt like I gave it my all, played some really good hockey there,” he said.

Hughes got a peek at what he could potentially face in Vancouver last week when his close friend, Florida Panthers forward Brady Tkachuk, returned to his former team for the first time. 

The crowd in Ottawa heartily booed the former Senators captain, and some held anti-Tkachuk signs as their team thumped the visitors 5-1 on Wednesday.

Tkachuk handled the situation well, Hughes said, and the reaction to his return simply showed the passion in Canadian markets. 

That ardent love for a team is something he said he’ll remember fondly about his time in Vancouver. 

“It kind of just feels like you’re playing for the Yankees,” Hughes said. “The passion in Canada, you don’t see that everywhere around the league … That’s a special thing. And definitely brings its highs and its lows with so many eyes on you. But for the most part, I really enjoyed that.”

The Canucks (2-9-1) have struggled mightily since Hughes’ departure, finishing last season at the bottom of the NHL standings. 

Vancouver heads into Sunday’s contest mired in a nine-game losing skid. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2026.