Quinn Hughes hears boos but celebrates 500th point in Wild’s 4-2 win over Canucks in Vancouver return

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Quinn Hughes returned to Vancouver with the Minnesota Wild and faced a steady chorus of boos from the moment he stepped onto the ice for warmups, but the atmosphere shifted during a first-period tribute video that prompted cheers and multiple standing ovations. In Sunday’s game, the loud reception bookended an emotional night for the Wild defenseman as he marked a major career milestone and helped Minnesota post a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

The booing began during warmups and continued as the scoreboard featured Hughes during the national anthems and whenever he touched the puck. Despite that, the game’s tributes altered the tone: the booing gave way to cheers, including standing ovations, during the video tribute in the first period. Afterward, Hughes said he was “just proud,” adding that he “was here for six-and-a-half years” and that he appreciated receiving cheers during the tribute.

Hughes reached the 500-point mark at 12:55 of the second period on a power play, when he scored to make it 3-0 for Minnesota. The goal was his 500th point in his 520th NHL game, a rate that the NHL described as the seventh-fastest by a defenseman all-time and the second-fastest by an American defenseman behind Brian Leetch (496 games).

After celebrating the milestone, Hughes continued to drive the Wild’s offensive production. In the third period, he added to his totals with an assist at 3:38, setting up Kirill Kaprizov on a breakaway. Kaprizov then scored his league-leading 13th goal of the season, extending Minnesota’s lead to 4-0 before Vancouver narrowed the gap.

While the boos were consistent early, the tribute changed the crowd’s reaction as most of Hughes’ former teammates took part in the ceremony by tapping their sticks during the video. Hughes said the night was especially meaningful because it allowed him to see familiar people he had built relationships with in Vancouver. He said he “met some of my best friends here” and noted he arrived in the organization at age 19, describing the transition from that time to the present as the feeling of becoming a “new person” through shared growth.

Hughes, who said he was “not thinking about it like that” regarding the milestone, connected the timing of the 500th point to the larger objective of winning. He told reporters that he wanted to get a win and that seeing the fans and playing again in Vancouver was “pretty cool” for him, while also indicating the milestone happened “where that happened.”

The Vancouver crowd’s negativity was tied to contract and future uncertainty ahead of Hughes’ departure. The NHL reported that the booing began in warmups and included at least one fan holding a sign referencing Hughes’ final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract signed with Vancouver on Oct. 3, 2021. The league also noted that the situation around the expiring deal and potential free agency contributed to the trade that moved Hughes to Minnesota.

Hughes was traded from the Canucks on Dec. 12, 2025 for forwards Liam Ohgren and Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft used to select Adam Novotny at No. 24. The NHL also reported that Hughes has been eligible to sign a new contract with the Wild since July 1, and that if he does not sign by June 30 he will become an unrestricted free agent. During the game, Canucks fans chanted “he’s not signing” in both the first and second periods.

Minnesota’s goaltending also contributed to the outcome. Calvin Pickard made 15 saves as the Wild skated away with the win. Pickard characterized the environment as loud and passionate, saying it reminded him of playoff games in Vancouver when Minnesota’s opponent was Edmonton in 2024. He added that Hughes handled it well and called his performance and milestone moment a significant factor in the night’s result.

Hughes’ former teammate Luke Schenn, who has served as Hughes’ first NHL defense partner, was among those associated with the Canucks’ view of the celebration. Schenn said Hughes “definitely deserved the cheers,” adding that he did not believe there was “much reason to be negative” given what Hughes has meant to the organization. Schenn also referenced Hughes’ overall impact on the ice during the game, while acknowledging that the crowd was booing him as he returned.

Coaching staff credited the combination of on-ice execution and a controlled response to the changing crowd. Minnesota coach John Hynes said the moment was emotional for Hughes because it involved returning to his former team and experiencing an organizational change while also reaching a “milestone.” Hynes said he believed Hughes played really well and that it was important for both the team to win and for Hughes personally to earn that victory in Vancouver.

For Hughes, the night also continued a strong stretch with the Wild. The NHL reported that he had 16 points in his first 13 games with Minnesota entering the date of this match, at least one point in 11 of those games. With the 500-point milestone, his total with the Wild moved to 69 points in 61 games.

In the moment, cheers ultimately outweighed boos during the tribute segment, even as the contest ended with Hughes again under a mixed reception. The Wild’s 4-2 win ensured that the homecoming’s most consequential storyline—Hughes’ 500th NHL point—arrived in a way that Minnesota could celebrate immediately, while Vancouver fans grappled with the memory of a long tenure that ended with a trade and an unresolved contract future.

The game further reinforced Hughes’ status across both teams. In Vancouver, he had been the Canucks’ all-time leading defenseman scorer and a Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman in 2023-24. In Minnesota, he continued to add to production alongside teammates such as Kaprizov as the Wild secured the victory in a tightly turned emotional night at Rogers Arena.