The Canucks pivot toward a hopeful future, leaning on Rossi, Buium, and Ohgren after trading Hughes to Minnesota
All three newcomers joined Vancouver on the ice for a practice the day after a franchise-altering deal.
© Vancouver Canucks
By Shawn P. Roarke
@sroarke_nhl
NHL.com Senior Director of Editorial
December 13, 2025
NEWARK — Vancouver kicked off a new era on Saturday, coming off a blockbuster move that sent star defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.
Forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, along with defenseman Zeev Buium — all acquired Friday from the Wild, plus a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft — were on the ice with their new teammates Saturday at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House.
Canucks coach Adam Foote framed the moment as a chance to look ahead, stressing that these reinforcements could play a pivotal role in building the team’s next chapter.
“We’ll put in the work every day to stay consistent,” Foote said. “We’ve got young players in this deal. It’s tough to talk about wins when they’re not coming, but there are a lot of positives here. We’re playing fast, generating offense.”
“We have to move on, just like ‘Hughey’ did. There’s still a lot of work ahead.”
The Canucks sit at 11-17-3, last in the league, and stand 2-7-0 over their past nine games heading into Sunday’s matchup with the New Jersey Devils (12:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, SN, NHLN). Throughout the season, rumors connected Hughes’s future with Vancouver and left the organization facing an uncertain path beyond this year.
With Hughes now out, the three newcomers dove straight into the mix as practice began.
Rossi, a center, and Buium, a defenseman, were placed on the top power-play unit, while Ohgren skated as a fourth-line winger in a spirited 40-minute practice rich in instructional moments. Rossi also centered the top line during rush drills, flanked by Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser. Buium lined up on the second defensive pairing with Tyler Myers.
Buium acknowledged he isn’t here to replace Hughes, even as he assumes many of the same responsibilities from the outset.
Hughes had 23 points (2 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games this season and 432 points (61 goals, 371 assists) in 459 regular-season contests.
At 20, Buium was Minnesota’s No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft and has posted 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 31 games this season. Scouts expect him to bring a similar offensive toolkit as Hughes, though he’s still carving out his game.
“I want to be myself,” Buium said. “Everyone knows the player he is — a superstar who’s achieved so much, including a Norris Trophy. I’ve always watched him, learning from what he does. But I’m here to write my own story and become the best player I can be.”
Rossi, currently on injured reserve with a lower-body issue since November 11, awaits medical clearance and could be cleared to face New Jersey. The 24-year-old was Minnesota’s No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft and is in the early stages of a three-year, $15 million contract that began this season.
Ohgren, 21, was selected 19th overall in 2022 and has yet to record a point in 18 games this season, having bounced between the Wild and their American Hockey League affiliate over the last few seasons.
“It’s been a rough stretch, no doubt,” Ohgren said. “I want to play in the NHL, and I think this is a good place and a good fit for me.”
Saturday marked the initial step for everyone involved — newcomers and holdovers — to begin forming chemistry.
“We’ve added three strong pieces, which is exciting for our group,” Tyler Myers noted. “Losing a player like Hughes is tough personally and professionally, but this is part of the game. The attention around Hughes will be intense, but I know these three guys well and I’m excited to grow as a team.”
Foote confirmed there won’t be an immediate captaincy decision in the wake of Hughes’s departure; instead, management will weigh options before proceeding.
