The Minnesota Wild are having a good start to the 2026-27 NHL season. They are tied for first place in the Central Division thanks in part to Quinn Hughes. The superstar defenseman is now going to take on the Vancouver Canucks as a visitor for the first time.

Hughes was traded by the Canucks to Minnesota last December. The superstar rearguard helped the Wild reach 104 points and earn a trip to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Sunday, Hughes acknowledged that he may receive a hostile reaction.

“I think everyone is entitled to express how they feel… Whatever happens today won't change how I feel about this place and how grateful I am for the six and a half years that I had here,” he told Sportsnet when asked about a potential negative reaction from Canucks fans.

NHL fans have certainly been vocal this season regarding star players on new teams. For instance, Ottawa Senators fans were quite ruthless when it came to Brady Tkachuk's return with the Florida Panthers.

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Hughes was traded after informing Vancouver that he was not interested in signing a long-term deal with the team. As mentioned, he helped the Wild make the Stanley Cup Playoffs and win a series. Vancouver, meanwhile, fell to the bottom of the standings. They are off to another nightmarish start this year.

The Canucks organization had some incredible moments with Hughes as the team's cornerstone. However, when the puck drops on Sunday night, the crowd could be singing a much different tune than they are used to for their former star defender.