Quinn Hughes Faces Harsh Reception From Former Team in First Return to Vancouver as NHL Player

A hostile return to Vancouver

Hughes returned to Rogers Arena as a Wild player on Sunday night. Canucks fans who had cheered him for six-and-a-half seasons instead booed him and directed chants at him. The crowd cheered when Hughes was knocked to the ice by a hit during his first shift. Fans also chanted about Wild general manager Bill Guerin, saying, “he’s not signing.”

The trade and contract uncertainty

Vancouver received center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, forward prospect Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-round pick in the trade. Hughes did not want to stay with the Canucks, continuing a trend of star players seeking moves from teams that are losing.

The Wild hope that Hughes will agree to a new long-term contract after joining the team. He has said he is open to staying and that talks are taking place, but he has not signed a new deal.

Fans react to trade requests

Hughes is not the only player to face a chilly response. Columbus Blue Jackets fans reacted similarly to forward Kirill Marchenko after he said he would not re-sign; he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the preseason.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin also faced a harsh reaction from his own fans after making an offseason trade request, which has not been granted. The article says his reception could be worse if he is traded and later returns.

Trade protections fuel frustration

More than 60% of NHL players have some form of no-trade protection or a no-movement clause, limiting teams’ options. When players request trades and restrict where they can go, fans may feel abandoned. The article names Hughes, Larkin, Tkachuk and Marchenko among players who had not helped their teams win anything, a factor that can deepen fan frustration.