Latest news with #MarcoRossi
New York Times
16 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
What we're hearing about a Marco Rossi trade, potential destinations and return
When it comes to Marco Rossi being at a crossroads with the Minnesota Wild, it's all about value. And not just his average annual value. President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin has said he likes Rossi but has a certain number he's comfortable paying the pending restricted free agent. He's made a couple 'significant' offers, he said, including for a shorter bridge deal last week. Advertisement There was another call between the sides on Tuesday, per league sources, and Rossi's agent, Ian Pulver, reiterated that a bridge deal no longer makes sense for Rossi after he was buried on the fourth line in the playoffs. Since the Wild don't seem to have an appetite to invest in a long-term deal for Rossi at an AAV around Matt Boldy's $7 million, it sure feels like his time in Minnesota could be coming to an end over the next few weeks. We know Rossi already turned down a five-year, $25 million offer a few months ago. Brock Nelson, a veteran center the Wild planned to pursue in free agency, re-signed with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday at the tune of three years with a $7.5 million AAV. So the Wild will need a Plan B, especially if they trade Rossi. Centers who could be available in free agency if they remain unsigned before July 1 include the Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett, Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, Dallas Stars' Matt Duchene, Ottawa Senators' Claude Giroux and Jonathan Toews, who last played for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023. If the free-agent route doesn't make sense, the Wild would have to acquire a center via trade, either in a possible Rossi deal or another. Guerin confirmed last week that teams are showing interest in Rossi, and there will come a point where Pulver can also shop for offer sheets in advance of Rossi officially becoming a restricted free agent July 1. Rossi played top-six minutes for most of this past season and was the team's second-leading scorer before being 'very disappointed' to see himself get the third-lowest ice time on the team during the Wild's first-round playoff series loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Rossi said he had an 'honest' and 'man-like' exit meeting with coach John Hynes. So it's not just his contract, but what his role might be, which is 'the subject of great debate,' as Pulver told The Athletic. Advertisement The good news for Rossi, 23, is that any team that acquires him knows it must pay him, so that would mean he's wanted and a likely part of his next team's future. The most telling value in all of this is how much other NHL teams have for Rossi, who is No. 2 on The Athletic's offseason trade board for a reason. But trading a young center means pressure on Guerin. The Wild have spent 25 years trying to draft and develop talented centers, and successes have been few and far between (Mikko Koivu, Joel Eriksson Ek, Rossi). So Guerin would have to figure out a way to parlay Rossi into a significant return, because as the GM told The Athletic last week, he doesn't want to make the team worse. Say what you want about Rossi, but he's shown the past two years on an injury-riddled team that he's able to play full 82-game seasons and produce. That production is not easily replaceable. There's a reason Guerin has said he's not 'dying' to trade him. 'I can't imagine Marco Rossi would not have value and really good value around the NHL,' former NHL GM Craig Button told The Athletic recently. 'There are teams screaming, screaming for that type of player.' Which teams could be 'screaming' for him? What could the return be? Here's what we're hearing, with insight from The Athletic's local beat writers. Canucks beat writer Thomas Drance: The Canucks' most urgent need this summer, explicitly, is a 'top-two lines center.' That's a description that applies in straightforward fashion to Rossi, both in terms of deployment and production. Honestly, the opportunity to add a 23-year-old pivot who led all Wild centers in five-on-five ice time during the regular season and produced 60 points seems almost too good to be true from a Canucks perspective. It's exactly the sort of player this club requires to bolster its center talent in the wake of last season's J.T. Miller trade. Advertisement In an ideal world, perhaps, the Canucks would prefer to land a larger right-handed center than Rossi (5-foot-9, 182 pounds). Vancouver's need for skill and upside in the middle of its forward group is too significant, though, to overthink this because of marginal fit or traits-based concerns. Rossi is a gifted young center, and the Canucks are desperate to add a gifted young center, so the fit here is obvious. If the Canucks decide to get into the Rossi business this summer, they'll have some desirable assets to dangle in exchange. The club's 2025 15th pick is very available on the trade market and would presumably be the centerpiece of any Rossi package. The club could sweeten the pot further with a young blueline prospect like Victor Mancini or Sawyer Mynio, a young NHL player like Nils Höglander, or even goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, who has been a star for AHL Abbotsford in the Calder Cup playoffs after a difficult NHL campaign. If the Wild want a center back to preserve some flexibility heading into the offseason, the Canucks are expected to consider parting ways with unrestricted free agent Teddy Blueger and his $1.8 million expiring cap hit. He's a player Guerin has a fair bit of familiarity with from his time as an AHL general manager in the Penguins organization. Flyers beat writer Kevin Kurz: Finding an NHL-ready center, preferably someone who can play in the top six, is high on general manager Daniel Briere's offseason to-do list, particularly after the Flyers dealt two of them this season in Morgan Frost and Scott Laughton. The Flyers have some assets to dangle, too, with seven picks in the top 50 in the upcoming draft, including three in the first round. I could see them potentially parting with one of those later first-rounders. Or if the Wild are seeking a player who could help immediately, perhaps they'd be willing to go for Minnesota native and right winger Bobby Brink, who took a noticeable step forward this season. My hunch is that Rossi's diminutive size would be a turnoff for the Flyers, who are already on the small side. Still, if no other options are available, Rossi would help fill a sizable hole in their lineup. Sabres beat writer Matt Fairburn: Right now, the top two centers on the Sabres' depth chart are Josh Norris, who has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, and Jiri Kulich, who is 21 and just finished his rookie season. So the Sabres would be wise to explore any upgrade to the top six. Advertisement The question would be whether the price for Marco Rossi makes sense for Buffalo. JJ Peterka feels like too much for the Sabres to give up. Bowen Byram might be an appropriate value. Jack Quinn could be available, but the Sabres would need to give up more than that. Kevyn Adams would probably prefer to dip into the Sabres' deep prospect pool or dangle the No. 9 pick in a trade like this. Hurricanes beat writer Cory Lavalette: The Hurricanes certainly need more scoring down the middle behind Sebastian Aho, and Rossi has the potential to fill that void. There are also some factors playing against Rossi. While he plays bigger than his frame, he would still be another small forward in a lineup that already includes Aho, Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven. Also, Rod Brind'Amour has desperately coveted a right-handed center — Rossi would add to the team's glut of lefties at the dot. All that said, if GM Eric Tulsky sees Rossi as a fit, Carolina has a wealth of assets. Rossi should be a slightly depreciated asset after playing just over 11 minutes a night for the Wild in the playoffs. An offer sheet isn't an option unless the Hurricanes get back their 2026 third-round pick, but it does give a baseline for the market for Rossi — something around a first and a third. Given the extra first-round picks Carolina has, Tulsky could offer a likely late first (one of Dallas' future picks or the Hurricanes' own this year) and go from there. Even if the trade makes sense, I still wonder about Rossi's fit. Former Flames beat writer Julian McKenzie: The Flames finished 29th in goals for and 30th in goals at five-on-five. So, yeah, they could use some scoring anywhere they can get it. This is already on top of their need for talent, particularly from young players between the ages of 18 and 23. Rossi checks off those boxes. Calgary would also love his versatility at center and wing. Advertisement Calgary has prospects and draft picks they can offer in return. If the Wild covet a roster player more, then a pick or prospect can work as a sweetener. I'd be fascinated to know who on the Flames the Wild would covet. Yegor Sharangovich seems like an obvious trade candidate to me. But he's coming off a down year and he might not fit the bill. Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson would be fascinating trade pieces to ponder. But Kadri has a no-move, while the Flames still have to decide on Andersson's future. Smith: The Mammoth already have an exciting young core, and GM Bill Armstrong is primed to make a splash this summer. There are rumblings Utah is dangling the No. 4 pick in this month's draft for top-six help, and while there's no indication that means Rossi, we know how much Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny loves the Wild center. Tourigny, who coached Rossi in junior with the Ottawa 67's, is a 'huge believer' and the 'biggest fan' of Rossi, comparing his 'first quality' IQ to the likes of Ryan O'Reilly. 'Trust me. He's an unbelievable pro,' Tourigny said. 'Takes care of his body. Takes care of every detail. He's super driven, super competitive. He's really shifty. He has an unbelievable IQ — great hockey sense. It's a matter for him to keep getting more mature in all of it. But Marco Rossi's a hell of player. On and off the ice, he's as low-maintenance as you can find. He's the most prepared guy you can find. He was a blast to coach.' Jets beat writer Murat Ates: The Jets probably aren't in the market for a smaller center, despite Rossi's great talent, but there's a strong argument that they should be. Winnipeg has traded first-round picks for second-line centers who then walked as unrestricted free agents in 2018, 2019 and 2023 — and would have done so again in 2025 had their Brock Nelson trade worked out with the Islanders. This is a hole the Jets will throw assets at until it's patched. There's also win-now pressure building in Winnipeg, given the number of star players aged 30 or above. Rossi needs a new contract now but isn't UFA eligible until 2029, making him someone well worth paying a first-round pick for — and a prospect like Brad Lambert or Colby Barlow, as necessary — to spare the Jets their annual 2C angst at the trade deadline. Other teams potentially interested in a young, scoring center: Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins (tons of draft capital, may need to prep for life after Evgeni Malkin if this is his final season in the NHL), Detroit Red Wings (they're already a little small up front, though), New York Islanders, Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Canucks trade target tiers 2025: Ranking the best fits on the offseason trade block
We are getting very close to the end of the NHL league year. This week, the Stanley Cup Final will start, and 48 hours after Lord Stanley's hallowed mug is awarded, the offseason fun will commence. Over the past few weeks we've been building out lists of free-agent and trade targets that the Canucks could consider this summer. These are mostly exercises designed to familiarize ourselves and our readers with the basics of how the offseason marketplace is shaping up. Advertisement What we haven't done just yet is truly editorialize. We haven't pounded the table or stumped for specific players. We've yet to really make the case for why Vancouver should prioritize pursuing this player or that player as this offseason unfolds. That changes today. With our 2025 Canucks trade tiers, we'll make a more serious argument for which of the realistic trade targets on the offseason trade block make the most sense for Vancouver. From the top targets to the young upside bets, here are our 2025 Canucks trade tiers. Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are at something of a contractual impasse with their most frequently used centre (in the regular season, anyway), 23-year-old, 60-point pivot Marco Rossi. The Canucks, meanwhile, are desperate for help down the middle of their forward group. They need a top-six centre above all else. It's not a tap in that Rossi would move this summer, necessarily. Wild general manager Bill Guerin — a former Jim Rutherford lieutenant, who has a close personal and professional relationship with Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin — explained as much to The Athletic's Michael Russo this week. 'I think sometimes you just have disagreements on where a player is at, and that's fine,' Guerin said. 'And sometimes it takes a little while longer to work through things. But out there, there's this belief that we don't like him or we're going to trade him. 'And look, he's no different than any other player. If we can make our team better by trading someone, we're going to do it. But that doesn't mean we don't like the player. And Marco is a player that we like.' Rossi may not be the perfect fit from the Canucks' perspective, given that he's somewhat undersized and isn't right-handed, but to focus on those attributes is to overthink it. This one feels like it could be a unique opportunity for a centre-needy team, the sort of opportunity that a team like Vancouver should try to seize — even if you have to pay a retail price to land the player. Advertisement Pavel Zacha, C, Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins detonated their roster at the NHL trade deadline, and if that rebuilding effort continues or deepens this offseason, big, productive 28-year-old centre Pavel Zacha would seem like an ideal fit for Vancouver's needs. Zacha is 6-foot-3 and plays a relatively rugged north-south game. If you wanted to design the perfect centre to complement Conor Garland's buzzsaw playmaking style in a lab, you'd produce a player pretty similar to Zacha. Vancouver has had interest in Zacha before, back when he was a less-established top-six player with the New Jersey Devils. If he shakes loose this summer, and if the Bruins are looking for future assets in a potential trade return, Zacha would be precisely the sort of fit that you'd expect the Canucks to chase eagerly. J.J. Peterka, RW, Buffalo Sabres The Canucks feel that their biggest need is at centre, and that's completely understandable. Given Vancouver's struggles to generate scoring chances over the past few years, however, the club still needs more position-agnostic elite forward talent. And while J.J. Peterka isn't an elite two-way player at this stage of his career, there's no denying his calibre as an attacking threat. Peterka is a restricted free agent this summer, and there's a widespread sense in the industry — alluded to recently by Frank Seravalli at Daily Faceoff — that he'd welcome a 'change of scenery.' If Peterka and his camp were to drag their feet in contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres leading up to July 1, when the threat of an offer sheet will be significant, it's possible that he could end up on the trade block. The bidding for Peterka, given his unique speed and scoring profile, is likely to be fierce if he's made available in trade talks. He may be that rare talent worth taking a big swing on. Erik Haula, RW/C, New Jersey Devils Erik Haula has struggled to live up to the three-year contract he signed with the New Jersey Devils a couple of summers ago, and only managed 21 points this past season. There are some signs that the versatile, and preternaturally confident veteran forward is beginning to slow down somewhat at the age of 34. That would be a concern if Haula were signed long-term, but he's entering the final year of his contract with a $3.15 million cap hit. Advertisement If the Devils want to reallocate Haula's cap space this summer and are willing to trade the veteran Finnish forward at a reasonable price, he's the sort of mid-range swing that could deepen Vancouver down the middle and help replace Pius Suter's contributions. Morgan Geekie, RW/C, Boston Bruins Morgan Geekie has the size and the right-handed shooting ability that the Canucks need to add to their forward mix, especially in the probable event that Brock Boeser departs in unrestricted free agency. Geekie, 26, is coming off a career year in which he shot the lights out from a shooting percentage standpoint, potting a career-high 33 goals. He's a restricted free agent this summer and has the sort of absurdly strong arbitration case that often gives teams pause about tendering a qualifying offer. That could cause him to shake loose via trade this summer. The issue with acquiring Geekie is that there's no way to lock in surplus value on his next contract. He's got a lot of leverage provided that he's qualified, and his next contract is likely to be an expensive one. If the acquisition cost in a potential trade is reasonable enough, however, Geekie's profile is a good enough fit for the Canucks to justify signing him to a big money contract. Trevor Zegras, LW/C, Anaheim Ducks Coming off of two relatively disappointing seasons and playing for a team that's hungry to take a step forward after years of rebuilding, Trevor Zegras is at a low ebb of his exchange value this summer. Zegras isn't a perfect player — he lacks raw skating speed, he's dealt with myriad injuries and his defensive work rate runs a bit hot and cold — but he's impossibly skilled. And he was a shockingly effective play driver in his late 20s, which gives him something of a rare profile. It's difficult to acquire star offensive players when everyone agrees that they're star offensive players. If you want to acquire the next Sam Reinhart or the next Sam Bennett, however, you have to take some risks. Zegras definitely has a risky profile, but he's also got top-end skill to burn and the sort of upside that NHL teams have to be willing to bet on — especially when they're as short on offensive talent up front as Vancouver is. Advertisement J.G. Pageau, C, New York Islanders Right-handed faceoff ace J.G. Pageau may be slowing down a bit at 32, but he's everything the Canucks need down the middle of their forward group at the moment. Pageau has a long history of quality playoff performances, is a right-handed draw winner and faceoff specialist and has the sort of character and leadership skills the Canucks would do well to add to their mix in the wake of last season's debacle. There are signs of slippage in his game, however, and Pageau is entering the final year of his current contract. He'd be a helpful piece for a lot of NHL teams, Vancouver among them, but he doesn't have the sort of profile that the Canucks can afford to chase at a retail price point. Jonathan Marchessault, RW, Nashville Predators Jonathan Marchessault's first season with the Nashville Predators was a disappointing one, but the Conn Smythe-winning sniper is still a productive, hard-working goal-scoring force. And an excellent contributor at the left flank on the power play. Though Marchessault is getting up there — he'll turn 35 years old midway through next season — and has four years remaining on a contract that carries a $5.5 million cap hit, he's still got 30-goal, 60-point potential and championship pedigree. He'll have a lot of control over where he plays next, and Vancouver is unlikely to rank high among his potential options. He'd be a good fit in Vancouver from a hockey perspective, but given the Canucks' positioning, the fit probably isn't there. Mason Marchment, LW, Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars have a long list of pending unrestricted free agents, limited all-around cap flexibility and the sort of realistic competitive window to justify taking a big swing this summer. Put it all together, and Mason Marchment and the final year of his $4.5 million cap hit contract could end up on the trade block this summer. A productive, consistent second-line calibre winger, Marchment is an experienced playoff performer and stands 6-foot-5. He'd bring an element to the top of the Canucks lineup that this team is aching for. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C/LW, Carolina Hurricanes Like the Stars, the Carolina Hurricanes are so close to seriously contending for the Stanley Cup, but also feel so far away. Advertisement Carolina should be expected to take a big swing (or two, or three) this summer. And in the process of remaking their roster and attempting to graft elite skill into their lineup, the Hurricanes may look to shed some commitments and reallocate cap space to more offensively gifted forwards. Depending on exactly how the Hurricanes proceed here, Jesperi Kotkaniemi — who is still just 24 — has long been a target for Canucks management, and has the sort of cap number that the Hurricanes may consider jettisoning if they find themselves with a serious opportunity to land one of the top unrestricted free agents. Kotkaniemi isn't a dynamic offensive centre, but could be a credible second-line option in Vancouver. He'd bring a ton of size and grit to a Canucks forward group that is crying out for those traits. Nicolas Roy, C/RW, Vegas Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights are always liable to trade really good players in order to set themselves up to sign great ones in unrestricted free agency. Perhaps if Vegas sees itself as having a chance to bring in an elite winger like Mitch Marner or Nikolaj Ehlers, the team could consider trading a veteran player off its roster to maximize its cap flexibility. And if that happens and Nicolas Roy finds himself on the trade bloc, he'd be a near ideal trade target for the Canucks. Roy, 28, has only hit 40 points in a season one time in the last four years, but regularly hits 30 points (or more) in five-on-five situations. He's a credible top-six calibre centre, who, because he plays for such a loaded team, hasn't really received the sort of power-play and offensive deployment commensurate with his skill level. In a second-line role with the opportunity to pitch in on the first power-play unit, Roy could absolutely break out offensively in his late 20s. Advertisement Ross Colton, C, Colorado Avalanche Colorado remade their roster midseason, only to fall to former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Don't expect the always aggressive Avalanche to be deterred from going all in to contend with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in their primes. They're an absolute lock to be among the league's most aggressive teams this summer. Like many of the contenders that are among this offseason's biggest wild cards, the Avalanche may have to shed some salary if they're going to reel in a big fish on the trade market or in unrestricted free agency. And Colton's contract, which has two years remaining on it at a cap hit of $4 million, shifts from a full no-trade clause to a modified no-trade clause this summer. Colton might not have the sort of offensive pop that Vancouver should prioritize in pursuing a centreman capable of playing on the top two lines, but he's an absolute dog and would be a helpful addition to Vancouver's forward group. Mavrik Bourque, C, Dallas Stars Mavrik Bourque is a wildly skilled, young right-handed centreman who struggled to get into a deep forward lineup this past season. The Stars aren't likely to let Bourque walk affordably, despite their litany of high-end expiring players this summer. Dallas, however, is likely to be in pure win-now mode and Bourque, who is a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, has earned himself a tidy raise on his second contract. He'd be a near-perfect developmental fit for Vancouver, even if the cost of acquisition would likely have to include Vancouver eating an inefficient contract (most likely on the back-end). Nick Robertson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs Nick Robertson doesn't have size and can be a maddening two-way presence, but he has the sort of speed and rush attacking ability that the Canucks need to find a way to add to their lineup. Advertisement The 23-year-old winger managed to stick around at the NHL level all season for Toronto this year, for the first time in his career. And he was productive when he got into the lineup, although he was most commonly used in the bottom six. Could Robertson do more in an expanded role for the Canucks? He could well be worth the dice roll to find out. (Top photo of Minnesota Wild centre Marco Rossi: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Wild and Marco Rossi remain at contract impasse as trade possibilities emerge: ‘Only time will tell'
Teams have started to call the Minnesota Wild about restricted free agent Marco Rossi, but even with negotiations on a new contract going nowhere, Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin said Sunday he's not 'dying' to trade the 23-year-old center. That doesn't mean he won't, of course. Advertisement Guerin made clear during a conversation with The Athletic that there's a certain price point he's willing to go to in contract talks with Rossi — and, so far, Rossi's ask has been significantly higher. The Wild have made two contract offers — five years, $25 million in the winter, per league sources, and a shorter-term offer last week. While the five-year offer had previously been rejected (after a bridge counter the Wild didn't agree to), Rossi's camp has not yet countered the Wild's recent bridge offer. The sides are expected to speak again this coming week. However, given that Rossi received the third-lowest ice time of any Wild player in the playoffs (11:08 per game) with most of his even-strength shifts on the fourth line, it's very unlikely now that Rossi would accept a bridge deal and risk being deployed in the bottom-six during the term of his next contract. After the season, he said he was 'very disappointed' with how the Wild utilized him in their playoffs. 'I think sometimes you just have disagreements on where a player is at, and that's fine,' Guerin said. 'And sometimes it takes a little while longer to work through things. But out there, there's this belief that we don't like him or we're going to trade him. 'And look, he's no different than any other player. If we can make our team better by trading someone, we're going to do it. But that doesn't mean we don't like the player. And Marco is a player that we like. He had a good season again. So I don't know where all this is coming from. … Marco's a good player.' THAT'S A WILD OT WIN! 🤩 Marco Rossi wins it for the @mnwild in @Energizer overtime! — NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025 Rossi ranks No. 2 on The Athletic's Chris Johnston's offseason trade board. He is ineligible for salary arbitration, which would have provided a one- or two-year term, but is eligible to sign an offer sheet with 31 other teams as early as July 1. So there is a pressure point for the Wild to potentially trade Rossi if a contract isn't agreed upon this month. Advertisement 'There clearly is a difference of opinion with respect to Marco's value,' Rossi's agent, Ian Pulver, told The Athletic on Sunday. 'We will continue in good faith to engage the Wild to attempt to reach resolution. We understand that Billy likes Marco, but for how much? And in what role going forward? (That) is the subject of great debate. 'Like the Wild, we believe we have advanced very fair and reasonable contract proposals. What the future holds for Marco and the Wild, only time will tell.' Guerin categorized the Wild's two contract offers to Rossi as 'significant.' 'They don't like it,' Guerin said. 'And that's fine. This is not a knock on them. They feel he's of more value. But to say I don't like him, if you knew what the value of what those contract offers were, you'd say, 'Oh, he definitely likes him and wants to keep him.'' The Wild's five-year contract offer to Rossi for a $5 million average annual value is in line with Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell and Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome. Rossi, on a seven- or eight-year term, is likely looking at comparables like the Ottawa Senators' Dylan Cozens ($7.1 million), Buffalo Sabres' Josh Norris ($7.95 million) and the Wild's Matt Boldy, who signed a seven-year, $49 million extension in January 2023. Rossi, the ninth pick in the 2020 draft, followed a 21-goal, 40-point season during his first full year in the NHL with a career-high 24 goals and 60 points last season. At five-on-five, he was on the ice for 56 goals compared to Boldy's 50 and 43 goals against compared to Boldy's 44. Overall, Boldy followed a 15-goal, 39-point rookie year in just 47 games with 31 goals and 63 points in 2022-23, 29 goals and 69 points in 2023-24 and 27 goals and 73 points last season. Boldy averaged nearly two minutes more per game the past two years than Rossi. Advertisement Calgary Flames 22-year-old winger Matthew Coronato recently signed a seven-year contract worth $6.5 million. It's hard to imagine Rossi agreeing to any long-term deal for less than that, but so far the Wild have shown no appetite to go anywhere in the vicinity. On a three-year term, Evolving-Hockey estimates Rossi is a $5.262 million player this summer. On a five-year term, the site has him at $6.067 million. On a seven-year term, it's at $6.688 million. For being undersized, Rossi doesn't shy away from going to the dirty areas. According to NHL Edge player- and puck-tracking data, 67 of his 136 shots were from the high-danger area (92nd percentile in the NHL), as were 18 of his 24 goals (94th percentile). Guerin denied a report from DailyFaceoff that he asked Philadelphia for Tyson Foerster or one of the Flyers' late first-round picks in a trade for Rossi, saying, 'I've talked to lots of teams about lots of players — not just Marco — and names come up all the time, but there's never been any serious discussion with anybody yet.' The Flyers are in the market for a second-line center, as are teams like the Vancouver Canucks, Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Flames and Montreal Canadiens. Asked if he's gotten much interest so far in Rossi, Guerin said, 'Yeah, teams see this stuff written and they call, but like I said, Marco's a good player and I'm not interested in making our team worse or postponing our team being better. So I'm not dying to get rid of Marco. That's the bottom line.' Most trades this month happen around the draft, which is June 27 and 28, but Guerin indicated he could be active much sooner. 'If we ever did something, I don't have to wait for the draft or anything,' he said. 'But again, that's not for Marco. That's for anybody.' This is a big offseason for the Wild, who are finally unshackled from a majority of the buyout pain for Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Guerin reiterated Sunday that he is confident the Wild will be able to sign Kirill Kaprizov to a contract extension this summer and said he also will be looking at potentially external additions via free agency or trying to make bold moves via trade. He wants to upgrade the center position this offseason and potentially add a scoring winger. Advertisement One current Wild unrestricted free agent that the Wild may re-sign is veteran left wing Marcus Johansson if they can get the 34-year-old on a significant haircut to his recently expired two-year, $4 million contract. He could be open to returning on an inexpensive contract. In his second stint with the Wild, Johansson has scored 28 goals and 82 points in 170 games. The Wild also plan to tender defenseman Declan Chisholm a qualifying offer if they can't re-sign the restricted free agent before July 1. (Photo of Marco Rossi: Sergei Belski / Imagn Images)
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Craig Button on Wild's offseason, prospects, what to do with Marco Rossi: ‘Be careful about trading skill'
When it comes to potentially trading Marco Rossi, Craig Button has a warning for the Minnesota Wild: 'Be careful about trading skill.' Button, the former NHL general manager and current TSN director of scouting, said there should be plenty of value for Rossi if the Wild do take him to market. He lauded Rossi's potential to grow into a 'really good player in the National Hockey League' despite losing some development time due to the pandemic and a COVID-19-related heart condition. Rossi is coming off a 24-goal, 60-point performance and is a restricted free agent. Advertisement 'Scotty Bowman said to me, 'This is a pretty skilled player. Those guys aren't easy to find,'' Button said on the latest Fellowship of the Rink podcast. Whether Rossi is traded will likely be decided around next month's NHL Draft, if he and the Wild are unable to come to terms. But Button brought up a personal anecdote about how a team he worked for — the then-Minnesota North Stars — made a mistake in trading skill (defenseman Larry Murphy) in 1990. 'Larry Murphy was with our team in training camp,' Button recalled. 'He's like, 'I'm going to get traded.' I'm like, 'No, you're not getting traded. You are too good.' He goes, 'No, no, I don't think the manager likes me.'' Bobby Clarke had taken over as North Stars general manager that summer. That fall, Clarke traded Murphy and Peter Taglianetti to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Chris Dahlquist and Jim Johnson. Murphy would win back-to-back Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Three weeks after the trade, all the North Star scouts, including Button, were on a call trying to find a skilled defenseman. 'We were going through the players — this guy, that guy — and (chief scout Dennis Patterson) said, 'You know, we traded a pretty good one a few weeks ago.' The call ended. We traded for Derian Hatcher. Wasn't a great fit. It wasn't until we got (Sergei) Zubov that we finally replaced Larry Murphy. 'Yeah, five and a half years later.' Enjoyed latest @FOTRshow with @CraigJButton. Lot of #mnwild talk, from offseason needs to Marco Rossi market to expectations for Yurov, Jiricek, Ohgren. Plus how Zeev Buium reminds him of Scott NiedermayerYouTube: — Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) May 26, 2025 Button had a lot of great insight on the Wild during his appearance on the podcast. Here are some of the highlights: On where Wild sits among contenders in West: 'I don't think there's any question this is a team on the rise. I think it goes back to patience and understanding. Bill Guerin came in and looked at the situation, evaluated it for a period of time, waited to make some changes. The most difficult thing he had to do was buy out Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. With it came a real albatross. The buyout money really hindered the Wild from winning — the ability to spend. Advertisement 'But what it allowed them to do is put some players in position that maybe they wouldn't have had they been signing free agents and trading for players. That's allowed the team and younger players to get a lot better. 'They've drafted so well. They've got difference makers in the net. They've got difference makers on the blueline. They've got difference makers up front. Now, with a load of cap space coming available, (Guerin) has got a great opportunity to add to the team. You're going to fill in some areas and add in some areas and bolster and strengthen. That's the opportunity now for Bill Guerin. 'To me, now it's where Billy will be judged on. How do you take it to the next level?' On areas Wild should address this summer: 'They can bolster some of their forward group. One thing I noticed is when (Joel) Eriksson Ek was out, (Kirill) Kaprizov was out, who did they have to roll out on the power play? They tried. But there was a real falloff there. They've got to build some strength in that middle area between the top players and the next group of players so that you don't fall off so much. 'I also believe they need to find a goaltender. I'm not so sure right now that (Jesper) Wallstedt is ready to give (Filip) Gustavsson what he needs. Maybe Jesper doesn't want to hear that. But Gustavsson is still young and I don't think another young goalie trying to find his way is the answer for the Wild. … I like what Brad Treliving did in bringing Anthony Stolarz in for Joe Woll. That's the type of move.' On Zeev Buium, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the World Championship: 'Buium is going to be a star, I have no doubt. He reminds me a lot of Scott Niedermayer, the way he plays. Is he going to get 90 points? I don't think he'll be a 90-point guy. But he's going to be somebody that's so efficient in his game, the puck always gets to the right place. He's a great skater, has got a great mind, speed, understanding of the game. When he gets those reps, he's going to become a big-minute player. He's done it. I've watched him play since he was 15 years old. When you watch somebody have that type of success and command the game and control the game for that long, now it's a matter of, 'OK, let's watch him do it.' Advertisement 'Someone asked me about Lane Hutson last summer and Montreal. I said, 'I've yet to see a level that Lane Hutson didn't master.' And I feel the same way about Buium. The exact same way. We know Lane Hutson, he got my first-place vote for the Calder Trophy. Zeev has got that Scott Niedermayer-esque ability to control the game — whatever you ask him to do. There's not a lot of fanfare to it. Not a lot of flash. But he's just incredibly productive. And he's a winner. You need those types of guys.' On what David Jiricek can be at the NHL level: 'He was drafted high, but he's not going to be a top-pair defenseman. He's just not going to be. So accept who you are. Accept what he is. And go on from there. A bottom-pair defenseman. A right shot, No. 5 defenseman on the right side. Stop worrying about offense. 'They've got to be realistic about the potential, and teams make mistakes in that regard. They over-project the players, and then they say, 'Oh, he's not there.' Was it his fault or your fault? 'Come to the realization that what he is may not be what you thought he was, then you evaluate. He's always been a competitor. He's got size, he can play physical. Embrace it and stop thinking about being the sixth overall pick. He is what he is. To me, young players on entry-level contracts, that's very valuable. Go try to be a Brandon Carlo or Erik Cernak.' What to expect from Danila Yurov: 'He's skilled. He's smart. He's got some weight and size to him. It's not easy to play in the KHL. The game is elite but slower. The game is more methodical. But for a young player trying to understand that grind, the timing for Yurov to come over now is good. 'John Hynes is going to push the pace. You've got to be quick. I think he can do that. The other benefit for Yurov is you've got Kaprizov right there with him. Don't ever underestimate the importance of having somebody who is an absolute star and is willing to do everything to help a young player. That's invaluable. 'That's another player that can come in and really help your team, and he doesn't have to be the front-line guy. It might not be until January or February where he starts to really show it, but that 4-5-6-7 group of forwards, that's the type of player you want to get.' Advertisement On who he's more excited about: Liam Ohgren, Riley Heidt or Hunter Haight? 'I think Liam Ohgren will be a really good third-line winger. Full stop. You need third-line wingers. Go watch those teams in Tampa Bay winning Cups. You want Blake Coleman on your team? Darn right you do. They traded a first-round pick and Nolan Foote for him. All he did was help them win two Stanley Cups. To me, that's Liam Ohgren. He's a big, hard, heavy, competitive, determined player. He's smart. I want Liam Ohgren on my team. He was captain of his age group in Sweden. He's won. He's a real key player when it gets hard and heavy.' (Top photo of Marco Rossi: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL offer sheet buzz: Will Cuylle, Marco Rossi, or Mason McTavish become 2025 targets?
Image Via Twitter Offer sheet talks were rising for the 2025-26 season, and so to some extent, they are heating up. The signing of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway by St. Louis last summer gave a rare sort of reminder that offer sheets do exist as a strategy. Perhaps big-name players would be unrealistic, but these young emerging RFAs with mid-level value should create small bidding wars as the salary cap is expected to rise to $95.5 million. Will Cuylle and Marco Rossi: The top likely offer sheet targets? Due to how crucial they are to their respective clubs and how much money those same clubs have, Evan Bouchard and Matthew Knies are almost untouchable. The opposite may be true for younger players just on the brink of breaking through and being targeted. Depending upon the level of an offer between $4.68 million and $7.02 million, a team may try to lure these talents away by giving up a first- and third-round draft pick in compensation affordable risk for clubs looking for long-term upside. — TheHockeyNews (@TheHockeyNews) Players like Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild and Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks fall in this category. However, due mainly to the flexibility with the cap that their teams currently enjoy, it is very unlikely that these players will be signed away. At least Anaheim is expected to have above $36 million in cap space, so any attempt to lure McTavish over would be a long shot. Dmitri Voronkov's Blue Jackets, on the other hand, are sitting in a solid financial position with more than $41 million in projected cap room. Of all rumored targets, Cuylle from the New York Rangers is the most plausible candidate. Incapable of holding more than about $8.4 million in cap space, this team is already in the majority under contract for their roster. This scenario puts them in a particularly vulnerable position for setting up a strategic offer sheet against a developing player like Cuylle, who is considered a valuable future asset due to his youth, grit, and scoring touch. Other names being tossed around are JJ Peterka, Gabriel Vilardi, Luke Evangelista, and Kaapo Kakko, with varying degrees of availability and club leverage. But the name of the game is not just in crafting the offer; it is in doing the right timing that won't allow the other side to be able to respond without mortgaging their own future plans. Also Read: Philadelphia Flyers shock the NHL world by hiring Rick Tocchet as new head coach Offer sheets, though rarely utilized, are a powerful tool in NHL building rosters. Usually, star players are beyond reach. Mid-tier RFAs such as Will Cuylle and Marco Rossi may, however, be on the table if an appropriate salary-cap structure emerges. It, thus, remains to be seen if any teams follow through with the idea that the 2025 off-season is an interesting question indeed. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
