NHL Rumors: Wild GM Bill Guerin eyes Sidney Crosby & 'other big names' after Quinn Hughes blockbuster trade

The Minnesota Wild made headlines after acquiring Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster deal with Vancouver. The move reshaped the Wild's blue line and signaled clear intent from general manager Bill Guerin. Now, league chatter suggests Guerin may not be finished reshaping his roster.

Hughes arrived at age 26 with elite credentials and a Norris Trophy on his resume. Minnesota paid a steep price, sending Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Canucks.

Despite the splash, questions remain up front, and The Athletic's Michael Russo believes that Guerin still sees a need at center and could explore another major addition.

"We all know Bill Guerin. It doesn't mean that he is done, you know, I think he realizes that there's still probably one deficiency up front that he's going to have to at some point address," Russo said on Kyper & Bourne podcast. "The question is now, after giving up so many assets the last couple years... if he's going to have those assets to go and get into a battle for some other top players."

That has fueled speculation around veteran stars, including Sidney Crosby. While no talks are confirmed, Crosby’s name continues to surface when Penguins struggle to win games. At 38, Crosby remains productive and leads Pittsburgh in goals (19) this season. His contract runs for another year after this season, making any move complicated but intriguing.

"I don't know about Nazem," Russo said when asked about the Flames forward. "I don't know if the age makes a lot of sense. You know, I think there's, there might be one veteran center out there that he would probably give up a lot for..."

"Obviously, Sid became available...I still think he wants to go big game hunting. I'm sure he's gonna be checking in, you know, like the second that Mathieu Darche got into Long Island, I'm guarantee you Bill Guerin was on the phone with him asking about guys like Bo Horvat and Matthew Barzal..."

Guerin is expected to check on elite centers around the League, including names tied to the Islanders and Blue Jackets. Minnesota has previously shown interest in players like Jack Eichel and Tage Thompson, signaling a pattern of ambition.

"The wild, it's no denying that the wild have tried to make a number of trades with the Buffalo Sabres for [Tage Thompson and with Vegas for] Jack Eichel and [with Utah for] JJ Peterka..."

However, the Salary structure will make the Wild's situation complicated. Quinn Hughes will command a massive extension soon, and they have previously signed Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million AAV), limiting how many stars the Wild can afford. Balancing depth while chasing top-end talent will test Guerin’s creativity.

"But I guarantee you that Bill is going to be checking on other big names," Russo said.

So, if another star becomes available, don’t expect Guerin to hesitate.

Bill Guerin's comments on Quinn Hughes trade

Last Saturday, Bill Guerin made it clear that the Minnesota Wild viewed the Quinn Hughes trade as a rare opportunity worth the high cost. He acknowledged how difficult it was to part with young players, all of whom the organization had developed closely.

"Bringing a player like Quinn Hughes here, you just don’t get this opportunities all that often," Guerin said about the Hughes trade. "... when a player of Quinn’s caliber comes available, ... there’s a cost to it, and we were willing to do what it takes."

Quinn Hughes brings elite production, leadership, and proven success to the Wild, already in contention with a 19-9-5 record. So, according to Guerin, acquiring a true franchise defenseman justified sacrificing future assets to push Minnesota forward now.