Quinn Hughes scores 500th point in return as Wild defeat struggling Canucks

VANCOUVER · Quinn Hughes scored his 500th career NHL point in his first game back at Rogers Arena, leading the Minnesota Wild to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. The former Canucks captain was booed throughout the night but also received a mixed reception, including a standing ovation during a first-period video tribute. Hughes finished with a goal and an assist, reaching the milestone in his 520th career game. The Canucks, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to 10 games, falling to a record of 2-10-1.

Hughes, who was traded to Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2025, became the second-fastest American-born defenceman to reach 500 points, behind only Hall of Famer Brian Leetch, who did it in 496 games. He is the seventh-fastest defenceman in NHL history to hit the mark. With the Wild leading 2-0 in the second period, Hughes scored on the power play at 12:55, putting back a rebound after a setup from behind the net. He added an assist on Kirill Kaprizov's breakaway goal in the third period for his 501st point.

The 27-year-old acknowledged the emotional nature of his return. "The passion with the fanbase is what makes it special to play here," Hughes said after the game. "So for me, it was cool to be back here, and exciting. And I'm glad we got the win." The tribute video played during the first TV timeout was met with a mix of applause, whistles and boos before many in the crowd stood for an ovation. Hughes skated out from the bench and raised his stick in salute.

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Fans had been vocal from the moment Hughes hit the ice for warm-ups, with chants of "Hughes, you suck" and "Quit-er" echoing through the arena during the game. Ahead of the matchup, Hughes said he was prepared for any reaction. "Whether I’m booed or whatnot, that won’t change how I feel about that place and how grateful I am for the experiences I’ve had there," he told reporters on Saturday. The trade that sent Hughes to Minnesota brought forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Öhgren, defenceman Zeev Buium and a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver. Former Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin made the move after learning Hughes did not intend to sign a contract extension beyond 2027. Former president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford later suggested some American players prefer to play in the U.S., saying Hughes "was leaving anyways."

Hughes played 459 regular-season games for Vancouver, amassing 432 points, the most by any defenceman in franchise history. He won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenceman in 2024. His departure has coincided with a steep decline for the Canucks, who finished last in the NHL standings a season ago and have continued to struggle. "We keep talking about it, like we do it for a period, and then in the second period, we stopped doing it," said Canucks forward Brock Boeser. "We need to find a way to respond."

Maxim Shabanov and Kaprizov each had a goal and an assist for the Wild, while Calvin Pickard made 15 saves for his first win with Minnesota. The Wild improved to 8-3-2 and have won six of their past nine games. Max Sasson and Boeser scored third-period goals for Vancouver, which was outshot 29-7 over the final two periods. Coach Manny Malhotra expressed frustration with his team's inconsistency. "We're searching for answers," Malhotra said. "It's concerning. Just feel like we have a good period... and then as soon as we come off of the things that we discuss... we allow a transition team to come to life."

Hughes is in the final year of a six-year, $47.1 million US contract and has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1. He has not yet committed to a new deal with Minnesota but said Saturday he "wouldn’t be surprised if something happens soon." The club missed a chance to sign him to an eight-year maximum contract before league rules reduced the limit to seven years on Sept. 16.

With files from CBC News, Sportsnet and Yahoo Sports