Rossi dilemma tests Wild's offseason plan
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Marco Rossi's future with the Wild is up in the air. Photo: Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Minnesota Wild face a pivotal choice about whether Marco Rossi is the team's future at center.
Why it matters: With free agency opening one week from Tuesday, Rossi's offseason contract drama has turned into a sobering reality check for fans.
- Just because the Wild have real money to spend in free agency for the first time in four years doesn't mean the players they need are available.
Catch up quick: For years, the Wild have desperately needed another top center to take some of the punishment Joel Eriksson Ek has endured.
Zoom in: At age 23, Rossi may still be that player. The Swiss center developed into the team's second-leading scorer this season.
- He proved he can push through defenders' abuse, potting more goals (18) from within 29 feet of the net than all but a handful of NHL forwards last season.
Yes, but: Rossi is undersized for a center at 5'9" — a problem for the Wild, who want to get bigger to compete.
The trouble is there are very few clear upgrades at center available in free agency.
- Brock Nelson, whom the Wild reportedly wanted, re-signed with Colorado.
- The Wild would have to overpay Jon Tavares or Sam Bennett, eating up dollars they likely need for a Kirill Kaprizov megadeal, which could also come as early as next week.
Behind the scenes: Trade interest in Rossi has been lukewarm, with teams mostly offering draft picks rather than a proven player the Wild want, The Athletic has reported.
As a restricted free agent, Rossi can't simply walk away from the team this offseason — but contract talks between the two camps have reached an impasse, according to another report in The Athletic.
- The Wild have balked at the Rossi camp's salary demands. Rossi is still bruised by his minimal playing time during the team's April playoff series, the report said.
What we're watching: Whether the lackluster market prompts the Wild to sit out the July 1 free agent feeding frenzy and wait for a midseason trade to make the upgrades they need.