There was almost a defiance about general manager Bill Guerin when the Wild acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster trade with the Vancouver Canucks. He didn’t care that some skeptics were saying that he had given up too much in the deal. He wasn’t going to miss out on his chance to bring this type of talent to Minnesota.

No matter the cost.

As soon as Guerin caught win that Hughes might be available, he put together his best offer, which included young defenseman Zeev Buium, young center Marco Rossi, young winger Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

It was a small price to pay for somebody Guerin truly believed could help get the Wild over the hump once and for all.

Asked at the time why he felt like it was the right time to swing for the fences, Guerin replied bluntly, saying, “Because it’s Quinn Hughes.”

It feels silly that it was even a question considering Hughes has turned the Wild into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

His signature moment came in Game 6 on Thursday night at Grand Casino Arena as he lifted the Wild to a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars to advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.

The performance Hughes put forth was the stuff of legend. He had a pair of goals and an assist while controlling the pace whenever the puck was on his stick across 28 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time.

“We wanted to close it out,” Hughes said. “All of our guys kind of had that mindset.”

That was especially evident for Hughes as he looked like man on a mission from the initial puck drop. Never mind that some of his teammates were seemingly working through nerves. He was a catalyst in the opening minutes that helped take the edge off.

It started with Hughes netting a goal to help the Wild make it 1-0 early in the first period. That incredible individual effort from Hughes was highlighted by him toe dragging around a defender before wiring a puck top shelf.

After the matchup briefly flipped on its head, Hughes did his part to help the Wild tie the score at 2-2 late in the second period. The sequence featured Hughes finding a lane and firing a shot through traffic before winger Vladimir Tarasenko hammered home on a loose puck.

As the tension started to build throughout the home crowd down the stretch, Hughes scored another goal to put the Wild up 3-2 midway through the third period. Though it looked like it might have been a lucky bounce upon first glance, Hughes had a plan all along and was actually trying to bank the puck off a defender in front.

All of those scoring plays perfectly encapsulated the feel Hughes has whenever he hops over the boards. He has a unique skill set that the Wild have frankly never had from anybody on their blue line. It’s a piece to the puzzle that has proven to be invaluable.

“We know every time he gets the puck something feels like it’s going to happen,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “It’s fun to have him on our side.”

That feeling was apparent as soon as Hughes arrived in Minnesota following the blockbuster trade. It’s not a coincidence that the Wild immediately looked more confident in everything they did.

“What he’s capable of doing as a hockey player is pretty special,” winger Matt Boldy said. ” The jump that we made as a team in every aspect of our game has been better with him being on our team.”

That’s why Guerin felt comfortable selling the farm for Hughes when he did it. He knew the move itself was going to change the dynamic of the Wild for the better. That’s exactly what it’s done as they have finally broken through and gotten out of the first round.

Now the Wild have a date with the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. It’s sure to be another hotly contested matchup.

“They were the best team in the league,” Hughes said. “It’s going to be a really hard series. They’ve got some ultra competitive guys too. I just think it’s a great challenge for us and we’re going to be looking forward to it.”

If anything is for certain, it’s that the Wild won’t be intimidated by the Avalanche. Not when they have Hughes waiting in the wings.

“He brought so much swagger,” fellow defensive Brock Faber said. “We’re so thankful to have him.”

So is all of Minnesota.

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