The Minnesota Wild shook up the Central Division and Western Conference race by making a blockbuster trade for defenseman Quinn Hughes.
The Wild pulled the trigger on the deal on Dec. 12, sending Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes, a former Norris Trophy winner who already has been named to the U.S. Olympic team, will join Team USA general manager Bill Guerin in Minnesota.
‘When a player of Quinn’s caliber becomes available and you have an opportunity to get him, there’s a cost to it,’ Guerin told reporters. ‘We were willing to do what it takes.’
Hughes’ arrival gives the Wild a high-scoring defenseman in a division that includes Colorado’s Cale Makar, Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen and Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey. Hughes scored a goal on Sunday, Dec. 14, in his Wild debut as Minnesota extended its winning streak to four games.
Here are USA TODAY’s latest NHL power rankings (statistics are through Dec. 14; figures in parentheses indicate change from two weeks ago):
NHL power rankings
1. Colorado Avalanche (0)
With 26 goals and 55 points in 32 games, Hart Trophy favorite Nathan MacKinnon is on pace to match his career best of 140 points while topping 60 goals for the first time. He was voted MVP during his 140-point season in 2023-24.
2. Dallas Stars (0)
The Stars have been outscored 9-2 in back-to-back losses since the end of their 11-game point streak.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (+2)
The Hurricanes are going with three goaltenders after the return of injured Pyotr Kochetkov. Frederik Andersen has been the odd man out, not starting since Dec. 4. Brandon Bussi (11-1) has had four of the recent starts.
4. Minnesota Wild (0)
Quinn Hughes said he appreciated all that the Wild gave up to get him. ‘Some teams, they’re in until they hear what they have to give up, but Billy (Guerin) was just full in. I think that was his first offer, so obviously I want to do what I can here and prove him right.’
5. Vegas Golden Knights (+8)
Jack Eichel, who started strong this season before fading a little, is heating up again with nine points during a five-game point streak.
6. New York Islanders (+9)
The Islanders have beaten the Lightning three times during a 6-1 stretch, plus the No. 1 overall Avalanche and the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.
7. Washington Capitals (0)
The Capitals lead the NHL with 24 goals scored by defensemen. Jakob Chychrun has a league-best 12 goals.
8. Anaheim Ducks (+2)
Forward Beckett Sennecke, who had a priceless expression after the Ducks went off the boards and took him No. 3 overall in 2024, is the leading rookie scorer with 26 points in 32 games.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (-6)
Captain Victor Hedman will have elbow surgery, NHL.com reported, but the Swedish defenseman is expected back before the Olympics. This is the second injury this season for Hedman, who has been limited to 18 games.
10. Philadelphia Flyers (-2)
The Flyers have lost three in a row for the first time this season. But they picked up three points with the losses occurring in overtime or a shootout.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins (-2)
Goalie Stuart Skinner hasn’t suited up yet for the Penguins since he arrived in the Dec. 12 Tristan Jarry trade. With Pittsburgh blowing third-period leads in back-to-back games, it could happen soon. His next chance is Tuesday, Dec. 16, against the Oilers, his former team.
12. Los Angeles Kings (-1)
The Kings have gone to overtime in six of their last 11 games, picking up one win. That came in overtime. They’ve also lost three times in overtime and twice in a shootout.
13. Montreal Canadiens (+5)
Goalie call-up Jacob Fowler had a 36-save victory against the Penguins in his NHL debut. He and the team blew a 3-0 lead in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Rangers in his second game. Fowler didn’t dress on Dec. 14 when the Canadiens beat the Oilers.
14. Detroit Red Wings (+11)
Patrick Kane is coming up on two milestones. He has 498 goals and can become the second player born in the United States to reach 500. He’s also eight points from tying Mike Modano as the top-scoring U.S.-born NHL player.
15. Boston Bruins (-3)
Defenseman Charlie McAvoy picked up an assist in his return from a broken jaw. He also lost teeth when hit in the face by a slap shot.
16. New Jersey Devils (-10)
The Devils, still missing Jack Hughes (finger surgery), announced that Timo Meier is taking personal leave to attend to a family matter. The Devils have gone 6-10 without Hughes.
17. Florida Panthers (+4)
Carter Verhaeghe totaled five goals in his first four games after he became a father in early December.
18. Edmonton Oilers (+5)
The Oilers moved on from Skinner, who was hot and cold in leading Edmonton to back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. Jarry won his Oilers debut after the Skinner trade, making 25 saves in a 6-3 victory against the Maple Leafs.
19. New York Rangers (+3)
The Rangers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to pick up their third home win of the season (they’re 12-5-1 on the road). J.T. Miller, who’s considered on the bubble for the U.S. Olympic team, scored the tying and overtime goal against the Canadiens.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs (+7)
Auston Matthews has only four multi-point games this season and one since he returned from a lower-body injury.
21. Ottawa Senators (-7)
Captain Brady Tkachuk has one goal in eight games since returning from thumb surgery after Thanksgiving. He also has six assists in that stretch.
22. San Jose Sharks (+4)
The Sharks overcame a 5-1 deficit in the third period on Dec. 13 to defeat the Penguins 6-5 in overtime. It was the sixth time San Jose has scored six goals this season.
23. Utah Mammoth (+1)
Logan Cooley, the team’s leading goal scorer, will miss eight weeks with a lower-body injury. He was initially hurt when a knee-on-knee hit knocked him out of a game. Three games later, he hurt his leg while crashing into the net.
24. Chicago Blackhawks (-8)
Star Connor Bedard sat out a Dec. 13 game after being injured on the final play of his previous game. The Blackhawks hope to have an update on his status on Dec. 15.
25. Winnipeg Jets (-6)
No. 1 goalie Connor Hellebuyck returned on Dec. 13 ahead of schedule after knee surgery. The reigning Hart/Vezina Trophy winner stopped 24 of 25 shots for a victory. The team had gone 2-8-1 in Hellebuyck’s absence.
26. Columbus Blue Jackets (-6)
Captain Boone Jenner had a goal and an assist in his return from missing a month with an injury.
27. Buffalo Sabres (+1)
28. Seattle Kraken (-11)
The Kraken’s penalty kill is last in the league at 67.5%. The worst in NHL history for a full season is 68.2% by the 1979-80 Kings.
29. St. Louis Blues (0)
Goalie Jordan Binnington continues to struggle, getting pulled in two of his last four starts. He ranks second to last in the league in Moneypuck’s goals saved above expected.
30. Calgary Flames (+1)
The Flames remain the NHL’s lowest-scoring team at 2.48 goals per game but they have scored three or more goals in seven of their last 12 games.
31. Nashville Predators (+1)
Steven Stamkos has taken off with eight goals in his last nine games, including a four-goal game on Dec. 11.
32. Vancouver Canucks (-2)
The Hughes trade gives the Vancouver a promising young defenseman in Buium and a young center in Rossi. Buium had a goal and an assist in his Vancouver debut. Rossi, activated from the injured list, and Ohgren had no points in the win against the Devils.
