Minnesota Get Quinn Hughes, But Still Aren’t The Best D-Core

The Minnesota Wild went from a decent contender, to a major contender over night after acquiring Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, and now pairing up Hughes and Brock Faber along with the rest of their extremely deep defensive core, they still aren’t the best, and despite having every element unlocked, there is still one team who have gone one better.

For the Wild, they know they have an elite top three D-core in the NHL, and is probably their biggest asset going forward, however with the Hughes trade there has been chatter about whether they have the best three pairings in hockey, but nothing comes close to the Colorado Avalanche.

The difference between Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes is very slim, but it is clear to every NHL fan that the consensus is that Cale Makar is not only one of the best defenseman in the NHL, but one of the best hockey players on the planet. Having a d pairing of Devon Toews, an elite international level player by his side, with veteran and Stanley Cup experience already makes their D-core one to watch out for, and differently than Faber and Hughes, their compliment to each other has been a winning formula for years.

Going down the lineup, in Minnesota, the second pairing of Brodin and Spurgeon is nothing short of pure class, but it seems Colorado have got it right once again. Having Brent Burns and Josh Manson, they epitomise what a second d-pairing is supposed to be. Brawn and strength, two guys who play the game heavy, and check tightly, something that Spurgeon and Brodin don’t do as well, and come playoff time, guys like Manson and Burns, guys who live for rapid playoff hockey just make their defense that so much better heading into the playoffs, and despite not being two elite all-stars, Burns and Manson are everything you want from your D-core.

It is no secret that both teams have an exceptional defensive core, and their units across all three pairings are elite, however it seems for what they are both trying to achieve is that Colorado know what they need, they have done it before, and it looks like they have found the answer to the question once again. Hughes may be wearing the green now in Minnesota, but the Avs will always be there in the central to peg them down when they need to be.