What the Canucks Actually Got Back for Quinn Hughes

Why would the Vancouver Canucks trade Quinn Hughes? Usually, guys like him are never traded. But he was, and coming to Vancouver were centre Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren, defenceman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick.

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Life moves on, and once the initial shock wears off, the best way to figure out this trade is to break down what Vancouver actually got and see what it means for them down the road. This wasn’t a trade for hope alone. These are real players, at different stages, who will shape the next phase of this team.

Marco Rossi: Should Be an Immediate Fit

It’s not really fair to expect Rossi to hit the ground running. That said, some parts of his game will work really well in Vancouver. He could really help out at second-line center. He brings puck-handling skills, makes smart plays, and drives the action instead of just reacting. Every once in a while, you can see him completely take over a shift.

He’s reliable, competitive, and still young enough to grow. Just as important, his contract is manageable. In a league where centre depth is always at a premium, Rossi gives the Canucks something they haven’t had in a while: a cost-controlled, everyday option who doesn’t feel like a stopgap.

Liam Öhgren: Should Be a Project That Grows With Time

Öhgren is the piece that requires patience. His NHL numbers don’t jump off the page, and his start this season was quiet. But the skill hasn’t vanished. He’s shown he can score at the AHL level, and sometimes a stalled young winger needs a reset and a clearer runway.

For Vancouver, Öhgren isn’t being asked to save anything. He’s a bet to develop well with the right opportunity, and if he can gain some confidence. If it clicks, you’re looking at a middle-six winger with size and skill. If it doesn’t, you haven’t sunk the trade on his shoulders alone.

Zeev Buium: Could Be the Canucks’ Swing for the Fence

Buium is the crown jewel of the return. He’s the reason this trade can’t be dismissed outright. Everywhere he’s gone, he’s driven play and won — college, international tournaments, you name it. Offence from the blue line comes naturally to him, and he thinks the game at a high level.

No one should pretend he’s Quinn Hughes. Still, there are hints that his puck confidence, creativity, and ability to take control of a shift will translate well. He pushes the game rather than reacts to it. For a team that just lost its identity on defence, that matters.

He also resets the clock. Buium aligns with a new competitive window, not the one that just closed.

The first-round draft pick doesn’t help tomorrow, but it matters. It’s unprotected, it’s flexible, and it gives the Canucks options. They can use the pick, move it, or package it when the time is right. In a long reset, those picks are how you regain leverage.

The Big Picture for the Canucks

You don’t “win” a Quinn Hughes trade in the short term. What Vancouver did was spread that value across positions, timelines, and possibilities. Rossi helps now. Öhgren might help later. Buium could change everything if he hits. And the pick keeps the door open.

It doesn’t erase the loss. But it does explain the logic. Now the hard part begins: making it work.

Related: Quinn Hughes, Who?: Zeev Buium Already Producing for the Canucks