VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Former Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes had a goal to reach 500 NHL points and added an assist in his return to Rogers Arena in the Minnesota Wild’s 4-2 victory over the Canucks on Sunday night.

Traded to Minnesota in December, Hughes was booed throughout the night.

Quinn Hughes has a goal and an assist in his Vancouver return in Wild's 4-2 victory
Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) skates past Vancouver Canucks' Brendan Gallagher (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

He scored on a power player midway through the second period to make it 3-0, and set up Kirill Kaprizov’s NHL-leading 13th goal early in the third for a 4-0 advantage. In 13 games this season, Hughes has three goals and 13 assists.

Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, Hughes played 6 1/2 seasons in Vancouver before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota. The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft.

Quinn Hughes has a goal and an assist in his Vancouver return in Wild's 4-2 victory
Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) waves to the crowd while playing his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kaprizov and Maxim Shabanov also each had a goal and assist, and Bobby Brink scored.

Calvin Pickard made 15 saves as the Wild improved to 8-3-2, following up a 5-1 victory over the Kraken in Seattle on Saturday.

Quinn Hughes has a goal and an assist in his Vancouver return in Wild's 4-2 victory
Minnesota Wild's Bobby Brink (10) celebrates with Jared Sturgeon (46) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Article continues after sponsor message

Max Sasson and Brock Boeser scored for Vancouver. Leevi Merilainen stopped 30 shots.

Vancouver dropped to 2-10-1 with its 10th straight loss.

Quinn Hughes has a goal and an assist in his Vancouver return in Wild's 4-2 victory
Vancouver Canucks' Max Sasson, left, hits Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman to reach 500 NHL points, achieving the feat in 520 games. Brian Leetch hit the milestone in 496 games with the New York Rangers.

Wild: At Utah on Tuesday night.

Quinn Hughes has a goal and an assist in his Vancouver return in Wild's 4-2 victory
Minnesota Wild's Matt Kiersted, right, checks Vancouver Canucks' Liam Ohgren (92) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canucks: At Anaheim on Tuesday night.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

 

More like this:

Raymond scores twice in the Red Wings' 5-2 victory over the Canucks
Oct 22, 2026
Ilya Mikheyev scores twice and Lightning beat the Blackhawks 4-1 to improve to 8-0 at home
2 days ago
Gritsyuk and Hischier score in 1st period in the Devils' 4-1 victory over the Ducks
Oct 22, 2026
Cooley makes 36 saves in the Flames' 2-1 victory over the Wild
Oct 22, 2026
Connor Hellebuyck happy to be with the Devils after a long wait for a trade from the Jets
Oct 24, 2026