Some NHL trades do more than adjust lineups and quietly remind players how quickly the business side can surface. The Quinn Hughes move fit that category, drawing surprise far beyond Vancouver and Minnesota.
That response carried into a recent podcast conversation involving Ottawa’s captain. It provided a clear look at how unexpected the deal felt from a player’s point of view.
Brady Tkachuk Breaks Down His Shock After Quinn Hughes’ Stunning Move to Minnesota
Brady Tkachuk has been a core part of the Ottawa Senators since the team drafted him fourth overall in 2018. As captain, he remains under contract on a seven-year, $57,564,958 deal that runs through the 2027-28 season before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Brady is also leading Ottawa as Captain, as Hughes did in Vancouver before his trade to the Minnesota Wild.
On a recent episode of Wingmen with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, the discussion turned to Hughes, a close friend of Brady’s and one of the league’s top defensemen. Tkachuk explained why the move stood out around the league.
“Yeah, I mean, what a deal. You have the top two defensemen in the NHL getting traded. It’s insane,” he said.
He also addressed the return Vancouver received, saying,
“It’s the package they gave up for him. I mean, that Buium, I don’t even know how to say his last name, but he’s a good player. Rossi, Ohgren, it’s just, but Quinn’s the GOAT. Quinn’s unreal.”
The conversation also shifted to the personal side of the trade.
“He’s such a great guy. I know how excited he is. I talked to him,” Tkachuk said, before adding context from a player’s point of view. “I’ve never experienced it, but that shock of getting traded, right? That actually happened. There are some unbelievable moments.”
This season, Hughes has posted three goals and 22 assists for 25 points in 28 games while averaging close to 28 minutes per game, continuing to play a major role in puck movement and power-play support.
READ MORE: NHL World Goes Wild as Quinn Hughes Comes Out All Guns Blazing in Minnesota Wild Debut
Since joining Minnesota, Hughes has continued to handle heavy minutes. He logged more than 29 minutes against Washington and recorded an assist, helping the Wild maintain possession through the neutral zone and sustain offensive pressure from the blue line.
Hughes and the Wild will next face the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 18 at 7:00 PM ET. Minnesota enters the matchup with a 20-9-5 record, supported by consistent play from Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov, along with consistent goaltending from Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt.
