A fan base that has been clamoring for a splashy move finally got what it wanted on Friday night when the Wild acquired superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks in what might go down as the biggest trade in franchise history.

It’s blockbuster deal that establishes the Wild as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The thought of adding Hughes to an already talented core should have everybody salivating at the potential damage this group can do once the playoffs roll around.

So why was it met with so much backlash on social media?

It seems like a large portion of the fan base is less concerned with the Wild getting Hughes, perhaps the second best defenseman in the world, and more concerned with they had to give up to get him.

The package that general manager Bill Guerin put together was substantial. He knew he couldn’t get cute if he wanted a chance at Hughes, so he offered up up center Marco Rossi, defenseman Zeev Buium, winger Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first round pick.

The massive haul the Wild had to give up for Hughes was a small price to pay. He’s arguably a Top 10 player in the NHL right now, a former Norris Trophy winner, who brings a dynamic element to the blue line that the Wild have frankly never had in their existence.

To get a great player the Wild had to be willing to give up some good players. It’s as simple as that.

Most of the apprehension from the fan base seems to be rooted in moving on Buium before getting to see him as a finished product. Those worries should disappear when considering that even if Buium were to reach his full potential, which is far from a guarantee, he almost certainly won’t be better than Hughes in his current form.

That’s how good Hughes is for those who might not be familiar with his game. He’s a smooth skater with the ability to start a breakout all by himself. He’s also incredibly gifted in the offensive zone without sacrificing anything in the defensive zone.

The production that Hughes has put up since reaching the NHL speaks for itself. He has amassed 432 points (61 goals, 371 assists) across 459 games in his career. The only blue liner with more points than Hughes since he entered the NHL is fellow superstar defenseman Cale Makar, the straw that stirs the drink for the Colorado Avalanche on the backend, who has a chance to go down as the best to ever do it.

The firepower that Hughes brings to the Wild will be on display for the first time when makes his team debut against the Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon at Grand Casino Arena.

He will join an extremely talented core that features superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov and star winger Matt Boldy leading the charge, to go along with a number of players, such as center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Brock Faber, who are perfectly cast in their roles. That doesn’t even take into account the stellar tandem of goaltender Filip Gustavsson and fellow goaltender Jesper Wallstedt between the pipes.

The fact that the Wild were able to add somebody like Hughes to the mix can’t be overstated. It has opened the Stanley Cup window for the first time in what feels like forever. That in and of itself makes this trade worth doing 100 times out of 100.

Though it’s been widely speculated that Hughes eventually wants to sign the New Jersey Devils so he can play with his brothers, the Wild now have a chance to prove themselves to him that as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, not to mention the power to offer him more money than anybody else.

In the current collective bargaining agreement, which is still in order this season, Hughes can sign an eight-year max contract this summer. In the future collective bargaining agreement, which kicks in ahead of next season, Hughes can only sign a six-year max contract next summer.

A common refrain among those within the fan base that aren’t sold on the trade is the hypothetical question, “What if he leaves?” A counterpoint that has to be considered is the hypothetical question, “What if he stays?

Not only do the Wild have a chance to prove to Hughes that it’s worth sticking around for the foreseeable future, they have a chance to do so while also getting to chase a Stanley Cup in the process.

That wouldn’t have been possible if Guerin didn’t have the guts to pull the trigger on a trade that will define the rest of his career.

He did so with an understanding that it’s impossible to overpay when a generational talent is on the table. He deserves credit for that, regardless of it ends with him getting to hoist the hardware.

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