Quinn Hughes faced a hostile reception Sunday night at Rogers Arena, with Vancouver fans booing the former Canucks captain during warmups. Hughes now plays for the Wild, making his return to the city that drafted him third overall in 2021 and eventually named him captain before trading him to New Jersey in February 2023.
The boos marked a stark shift from Hughes' time in Vancouver. He captained the Canucks as the face of their franchise rebuild, but the organization moved him out at the deadline rather than commit to a long-term extension. The Wild acquired him in that deal, and he's since signed a long-term contract in Minnesota.
For Canucks fans, the reception reflects frustration with how the organization handled its young centerpiece. Hughes was supposed to be the foundation of a contender. Instead, Vancouver moved on, and Hughes is now succeeding elsewhere. The boos Sunday night showed those fans still have plenty to say about how it all went down.