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):
