Former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes booed in Vancouver return with Wild

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A chorus of boos echoed through Rogers Arena as Quinn Hughes stepped on the ice for warmups Sunday night. They never stopped.

The former Vancouver captain was back for the first time since being traded to Minnesota in December. He had a goal to reach 500 NHL points and added an assist in the Wild’s 4-2 victory over the Canucks.

Hughes scored off a rebound on a power player midway through the second period to make it 3-0, and set up Kirill Kaprizov's NHL-leading 13th goal early in the third for a 4-0 advantage. In 13 games this season, Hughes has three goals and 13 assists.

Hundreds of people — many clad in Canucks jerseys emblazoned with Hughes’ name and No. 43 — stood around the glass ahead of warmups, hoping to get a glimpse of the star American defenseman. One held a sign reading “And I thought I had commitment issues.”

More boos rained down when Hughes’ name was mentioned on the big screen ahead of puck drop.

Picked seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018, Hughes played 6 1/2 seasons in Vancouver before the blockbuster trade sent him to Minnesota.

The deal saw Vancouver acquire Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, defenseman Zeev Buium and the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Patrik Allvin, then Vancouver’s general manager, said Hughes had made it clear he was unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Canucks following the expiration of the six-year, $47.1 million deal he signed in October 2021.

In 2024, Hughes won the Norris Trophy — awarded annually to the league’s top defenseman — after helping Vancouver win a Pacific Division title and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Hughes became the second-fastest American defenseman to reach 500 NHL points, achieving the feat in 520 games. Brian Leetch hit the milestone in 496 games with the New York Rangers.

Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) evades Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Max Sasson, left, hits Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes (43) waves to the crowd while playing his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Minnesota Wilds' Quinn Hughes (43) sends a puck into the crowd in the pre-game skate before an NHL hockey game against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fans watch as Minnesota Wilds' Quinn Hughes (43) participates in the pre-game skate before an NHL hockey game against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Jacob Mallari/The Canadian Press via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 26, 2026--

American Hospital Dubai ("AHD"), one of the Middle East's premier private healthcare providers and a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, and HEI Global Health ("HEI"), a global healthcare technology and consulting company, today announced a strategic partnership to jointly build and implement RevOptix™, HEI's AI-powered Revenue Cycle and Patient Accounting Intelligence Platform, while establishing American Hospital Dubai as the inaugural Alpha Partner for the solution.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261025835432/en/

Under the agreement, HEI will deploy its Revenue Cycle Software Suite to help American Hospital Dubai improve financial performance, streamline revenue cycle operations, and enhance the patient financial experience through artificial intelligence, workflow automation, predictive analytics, and real-time operational intelligence.

As the inaugural RevOptix™Alpha Partner, American Hospital Dubai will leverage their expertise and collaborate directly with HEI's product, engineering, and executive leadership teams to jointly build and validate new capabilities in a live healthcare environment. The partnership will help shape future product innovation while providing AHD early access to next-generation technologies.

"At American Hospital Dubai, we are committed to leveraging innovative technologies that enhance both operational performance and the patient experience," said Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of American Hospital Dubai. "Working together with HEI Global Health allows us to contribute our operational expertise while helping build solutions that will shape the future of Revenue Cycle Management and create meaningful value for healthcare organizations."

“American Hospital Dubai’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence makes them an ideal Alpha Partner for RevOptix™ and an important part of HEI Global Health’s Middle East strategy,” said Aaron Habben, Chief Executive Officer of HEI Global Health. “This partnership provides HEI with valuable real-world operational insights that can help advance our AI-powered revenue cycle solutions, deliver measurable results to healthcare organizations throughout the region, and support HEI’s continued global growth.”

The organizations will collaborate on continuous product innovation, real-world validation, and AI-driven capabilities that improve operational visibility, automate revenue cycle workflows, and strengthen financial performance.

Beyond software implementation, the partnership includes joint customer success initiatives, industry thought leadership, research, and best-practice sharing, creating a model for collaboration between healthcare providers and technology innovators to advance intelligent revenue cycle management.

About HEI Global Health

HEI Global Health is a global healthcare technology and consulting company originally founded in 2005 and delivering revenue cycle solutions throughout the Middle East since 2012. The company specializes in revenue cycle transformation, healthcare software solutions, patient liability estimation, and operational consulting. Its flagship platform, RevOptix™, delivers AI-powered revenue cycle intelligence through intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and real-time operational visibility, helping healthcare organizations improve financial performance and operational efficiency.

www.heiglobalhealth.com

About American Hospital Dubai

American Hospital Dubai is one of the Middle East's premier private healthcare providers and a recognized leader in clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care. With multiple inpatient hospitals and outpatient clinics across Dubai, the organization provides comprehensive medical and surgical services across more than 40 specialties. American Hospital Dubai was the first hospital in the Middle East to earn Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation and is the region's first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

www.ahdubai.com

Brian Raggett, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Growth at HEI Global Health, and Rohit Gandhi, Group Chief Financial Officer at American Hospital Dubai, mark the official signing of the agreement establishing American Hospital Dubai as the inaugural Alpha Partner for RevOptix™, HEI Global Health’s AI-powered revenue cycle management platform.