The Vancouver Canucks are in the middle of a brutal stretch, sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Division. They’re coming off a 4-0 loss to the Red Wings on Monday and have now dropped five of their last six games.
With things spiraling, management has made it clear they’re “open for business” and willing to shake up the roster. And now, a new report suggests the Canucks actually walked away from a potential deal involving a Minnesota Wild rising star.
The Minnesota Wild Player the Canucks Turned Down
According to The Athletic, the player in question was Wild forward Marco Rossi. NHL insiders Michael Russo and Joe Smith detailed the situation, noting that Vancouver backed out of a draft-day deal.
“Ironically, the Canucks turned down an offer from the Wild for Rossi at the draft that would have involved Aatu Raty (scored two goals and an assist and had one goal overturned against the Wild on Saturday night), the No. 15 pick, and goalie Arturs Silovs,” they reported.
#Canucks twitter would have blown up if this went through https://t.co/IfW5Dm5nkk pic.twitter.com/r3QYWCClB5
— Adam Kierszenblat (@Adamkblat) December 8, 2025
Had that trade gone through, Canucks fans likely would’ve erupted online. But it didn’t materialize, and now, months later, Vancouver is once again showing interest in Rossi. The young forward is having a solid season with 13 points in 17 games.
Revisiting the original offer is now essentially impossible. Silovs has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Rossi’s value has climbed after a strong start and a fresh three-year extension with the Minnesota Wild. Even so, trade chatter around him hasn’t fully disappeared, especially if the Wild struggle later in the season.
Meanwhile, the Canucks are dealing with another major storyline: the Quinn Hughes trade buzz. The captain recently admitted that “things like that could happen” when asked about the rumors. Hughes could command a massive contract wherever he signs next.
ALSO READ: Canucks Insider Reveals Where Bids Will Start for Any Potential Quinn Hughes Trade
Hughes is viewed as the league’s second-best defenseman, and his price reflects it. As a rental, he could fetch two first-round picks and a prospect, similar to past star UFA trades. But his value is even higher now: any team acquiring him this season gets 18 months of control and two playoff runs. If he doesn’t sign long-term, they could still flip him in 2027 and recover major assets.
There’s also a financial wrinkle. Until September 15, 2026, teams can still sign extensions under the old CBA rules. Any team holding Quinn Hughes’ rights before that date can offer an eight-year deal, while the new CBA caps extensions at seven years. That extra year could mean he can roughly get $15 million more in guaranteed money.
The Vancouver Canucks will try to regroup when they take on the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at home.
