Minnesota, which already has a strong power play (21.5 percent; 11th), could reach another gear after finally landing a high-scoring power-play quarterback. The Wild’s first man-advantage unit already featured two of the NHL’s goal-scoring leaders in Kaprizov (18; tied for sixth) and Matt Boldy (17; tied for ninth) prior to the trade.
Hughes and the Wild could help each other reach their full potential; Hughes has 26 points (two goals, 24 assists) in 30 career Stanley Cup Playoff games but has never reached the conference finals. The Wild have lost opening-round series in each of their past eight postseason appearances and haven’t reached the Western Conference Final since 2002-03.
Here are three underlying reasons Hughes could make the Wild a Stanley Cup contender:
1. Shooting metrics
Hughes, despite missing five games this season because of injury, has been a standout among defensemen in hardest shot (95.04 mph; 87th percentile) and boasts outstanding totals in midrange shots on goal (29; 99th percentile; third at position behind Zach Werenski’s 39, Matthew Schaefer’s 30) and long-range shots on goal (28; 88th percentile at position).
Last season, Hughes was also among the defenseman leaders in high-danger shots on goal (12; 95th percentile), in addition to midrange shots (37; 94th percentile) and long-range shots (105; 98th percentile; eighth at position). It’s worth noting Hughes has yet to score a midrange goal this season after shooting 13.5 percent from midrange areas last season, when he ranked in the 94th percentile among defensemen in midrange goals (five). Last season, Hughes ranked second in the entire NHL in long-range goals (nine; behind Makar’s 11).
2. Possession stats
Hughes had by far Vancouver’s best 5-on-5 shot attempts differential (plus-81) this season and now could significantly boost the Wild’s offense, which ranked fifth worst in 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (47.2) this season prior to the trade. Minnesota ranked eighth in offensive zone time percentage (41.5) this season prior to the trade, while Hughes ranked third among defensemen in that category (47.7; 99th percentile) behind Shayne Gostisbehere (49.1) and Adam Fox (48.2).
The Hughes trade should also only help the goal support for Minnesota’s goalie tandem of Filip Gustavsson and rookie Jesper Wallstedt. This season prior to the trade, the Wild were tied for second in team save percentage (.911; behind Avalanche’s .918) and lead the NHL in both shutouts (six) and 5-on-5 save percentage (.933). Other metrics for the Wild that Hughes should improve are their shots on goal per game (28.1; 17th), 5-on-5 goals (52; third worst) and 5-on-5 shooting percentage (7.8; tied for third worst).
