Article: Why Didn't the Wild Prepare Marco Rossi For the Playoffs This Year?

[Tony Abbott]

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[Jon]

“But the lack of trust in Rossi, to the point where he doesn’t get a serious look in a golden opportunity, is beyond frustrating.”

“But suppose the Wild finish this four-game stretch without giving Rossi a real opportunity to see what he’d look like in Eriksson Ek’s role. In that case, it hearkens back to other instances where he’s resisted making changes or adjustments.”

Exactly. Precisely. I find myself questioning some aspects of Evason’s team philosophy more and more when I see what I think is a lack of trust or patience. 
 

Hell, Faber talked about how it was extremely helpful a coach was giving him attention and trust to go play HIS game while acclimating at his own pace. Why, WHY, isn’t Rossi treated like this??? Frustrating, indeed. I have full confidence in the Wild drafting well, but I’m beginning to wonder how well this regime will be in developing players (not just AHL, but NHL time and development).

 

Great article, Abbott. I share largely the same perspective.

Edited April 11, 2023 by Jon

[joebou15]

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when you say you don't trust him, and don't give him time and/or linemates, but expect the world, and then when he predictably falls short, you say can't trust him. 

 

It's crazy as hell to me. 

 

You'll never know until you find out. But to find out, you have to put him in a role that you're grooming him for and not something else. 

[Protec]

Oh geez. This is what the Wild did when they gave him a bunch of time earlier this season.

He's a little Euro guy of which there's only one successful NHLer currently in Zuccarello.

I challenge anyone to name a great little Euro player from history.

Rossi was not the player the Wild should have picked. He's not translating to the NHL. Other players from his draft have done fine in depth roles. Just admit he's an example of an OHL standout season turned hypefest. Not an NHL style game. Go ahead and keep trying though, just like the Fletcher era. Rossi's not another iteration of Tuch who wasn't given a decent chance or time. He's been a pro now two full seasons with NHL chances and he's looked worse than Beckman and Walker in terms of jam, fire in the belly, opportunity generation etc. 

You can't make passive little Euro guys into something they're not. If he needs to be on the top lines, PP with all the studs to succeed like Addison then that tells me everything I need to know. Support guy, skill guy, specialist. How many roles does a team have like that? Rossi fell to ninth and the Wild got sucker'd. They should have stuck with picking Lundell, Mercer, or Jarvis. It's easy to see now how it played out and didn't seem too bad then. Now it's pretty clear the better judgement would've been to get a NA player with a NHL style game.

[Thomas Williams]

2 minutes ago, Protec said:

Oh geez. This is what the Wild did when they gave him a bunch of time earlier this season.

He's a little Euro guy of which there's only one successful NHLer currently in Zuccarello.

I challenge anyone to name a great little Euro player from history.

Off the top of my head, maybe the two first-line wingers on the Minnesota Wild.

Also, the key is just to be patient with Rossi. He deserves some benefit of the doubt and getting those top-six opportunities during this time where they need him. He's still so young.

[Tony Abbott]

15 minutes ago, Protec said:

I challenge anyone to name a great little Euro player from history.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

20 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

 

Is that Pierre Marc Bouchard?

[Pewterschmidt]

Heir Rossi will be in the lineup tonight. Centering the third line time for some redemption bro.

[Protec]

Touché.

We'll see. I'm not saying don't give him more chances and time, just that it's not certain he's an NHL player. The Wild waited for Coyle, Zucker, Granlund, and others to become something they were not. My opinion is that Rossi has value and potential now. After another season or two of "giving him time" that's all she wrote if he doesn't become the player you want.

Currently with the "change of scenery" title, I'm thinking you could package him or get a 2nd rounder which was a bigger tougher, more tenacious North American style player. Lundell was supposed to be the next Finn in Minnesota to replace Koivu. That would have been acceptable. Elite Swedes work in the NHL too, but other than that it's slim pickens.

[Tony Abbott]

But for real, just from from Wild history:

Kevin Fiala

[Thomas Williams]

17 minutes ago, Protec said:

Touché.

We'll see. I'm not saying don't give him more chances and time, just that it's not certain he's an NHL player. The Wild waited for Coyle, Zucker, Granlund, and others to become something they were not. My opinion is that Rossi has value and potential now. After another season or two of "giving him time" that's all she wrote if he doesn't become the player you want.

Currently with the "change of scenery" title, I'm thinking you could package him or get a 2nd rounder which was a bigger tougher, more tenacious North American style player. Lundell was supposed to be the next Finn in Minnesota to replace Koivu. That would have been acceptable. Elite Swedes work in the NHL too, but other than that it's slim pickens.

I think you focus too much on where a player is from. That doesn't matter.

[Pewterschmidt]

9 minutes ago, Thomas Williams said:

I think you focus too much on where a player is from. That doesn't matter.

Protec’s point is valid imo as many of these euro’s grow up in no-check leagues on football field size rinks and then come over here and learn to play smash mouth North American puck against lumberjacks who’ve had concussions since peewee’s and on their 4th ACL, but they have no interest in working for the family logging business so they beat up on Kim Johnnsonn’s to get coaches attention

[Protec]

Well I disagree because most NHL players are North American. They develop in North American systems playing that style of hockey from youth. The examples of successful little Euro guys is pretty much zip. Therefore, Rossi's odds of being like a middle six guy in the NHL isn't too great. That's not an advanced stats algorithm conclusion, it's small guy in the NHL conclusion and throughout history there just aren't many from Europe. Rossi being 9th overall and great in the OHL one year is pretty much meaningless now.

[Tony Abbott]

How about two great years in the AHL? Is that meaningless now?

[Protec]

Quote

But for real, just from from Wild history:

Kevin Fiala

I don't really think Fiala and Rossi are good comparables. Fiala is listed as 5'10/200lbs and is a dynamic skater with speed and agility that Rossi does not exhibit. Plus Kevin does superfast-stickhandles. Fiala did three seasons of AHL/NHL before becoming a full time NHL player so maybe Rossi will just need one more year. I hope so because I won't have to keep bringing up how Mercer, Lundell, and Jarvis have been better sooner contributing on good teams. 

[B1GKappa97]

Having watched Rossi for a handful of games.. I completely understand why Evason doesn't want to play him. He is NOT physical enough for the NHL and its maddening to see. Not only that, but he seems to have no idea what is going on while he's on the ice. 

When Matt Boldy came in as a rookie, you could tell he knew how to read and play the game. Marco Rossi is the complete opposite. 

Maybe that means he just needs more experience, and I hope that's the case, but so far he looks like a complete bust who has no clue what he's doing.

Our 4th liners are literally playing smarter hockey than Rossi does. 

[Ohli]

Rossi just isn’t showing anything that deserves more ice time.  That’s on him not Dean.  He should be out there demanding it by his play.  He looks lost out there

[Will D. Ness]

Rossi did look a little better last night.  Less deer in the headlights type of play and a little more focus and willingness to make a play even if it means he gets crushed.  I think he has a sense of urgency that was lacking the first 16 games.

[mnfaninnc]

17 hours ago, Tony Abbott said:

But for real, just from from Wild history:

Kevin Fiala

Protec is talking about tiny European players, not middleweights.  Fiala is a middleweight. Kaprizov also fits in that category.  In this era of hockey, Zuccarello is one of the only ones.  Anders Hedberg was the one I could find, but that's in a different era where the players were smaller.

[Tony Abbott]

Rossi famously is a workout addict with tree trunk legs. We're not talking about Mikael Granlund here. Very little difference between 5'9" and Fiala at 5'10".

[mnfaninnc]

3 hours ago, Ohli said:

Rossi just isn’t showing anything that deserves more ice time.  That’s on him not Dean.  He should be out there demanding it by his play.  He looks lost out there

He did until last night.  Last night he showed off some speed, hustle, urgency.  Rossi will have to overcome his size, he can do that by being stocky, however as we've discussed earlier, this may not be his body type.  

Attitude means a lot.  Rossi went down to Iowa and has worked hard enough to get an A on his chest.  But, in the highlights, I still saw a lot of standing around, gliding, soft plays, and lack or giving up on the back check.  Last night I felt different about his game, and, to me, it's the 1st time I've seen him really hustle, and he did it most of the time he was on the ice.  

So, the premise of the article was why didn't the Wild get Rossi ready for the playoffs? I don't think anyone figured on Ek getting a broken leg, but I'd say they were preparing him for a run.....in the AHL.  Why didn't they call him up? Iowa is also in the midst of a playoff bubble run, and they needed Rossi to help out with that.  Rossi is also learning leadership, and that A on his chest meant he had to help lead Iowa to the playoffs.  

Big picture is that it is best for the Wild franchise to have both teams in the playoffs.  It will help Beckman, The Wall, and the defenders play playoff hockey, even down there.  They currently stand 4th, 4 points up on Chicago with 3 to play.  

Now, with Johansson possibly out, or ailing, does Nyquist get that spot?  Would it maybe be worth looking at Boldy-Rossi-Nyquist in the finale?  I think it might.  Nashville was eliminated last night.  I expect they won't be in a cheery mood.  I'd give that line a try, but also remember to bring some beef.  

Off topic here, but, does Kaprizov look right to everyone?  It's nice having him back, but it seems like the 10/2 is missing from his game.  Maybe it was just him getting back on the scoresheet, but he just looks a little off to me.  

[Tony Abbott]

Injuries happen, though, and it's not like Gaudreau and Steel are Top-6 guys. I like Hartman generally, but I'm not even sure if he fits that bill. I think they needed to at least have him ready to step in, even if it was for a few games in February or March or whatever. 

[Mateo3xm]

On 4/11/2023 at 3:42 PM, Jon said:

“But the lack of trust in Rossi, to the point where he doesn’t get a serious look in a golden opportunity, is beyond frustrating.”

“But suppose the Wild finish this four-game stretch without giving Rossi a real opportunity to see what he’d look like in Eriksson Ek’s role. In that case, it hearkens back to other instances where he’s resisted making changes or adjustments.”

Exactly. Precisely. I find myself questioning some aspects of Evason’s team philosophy more and more when I see what I think is a lack of trust or patience. 
 

Hell, Faber talked about how it was extremely helpful a coach was giving him attention and trust to go play HIS game while acclimating at his own pace. Why, WHY, isn’t Rossi treated like this??? Frustrating, indeed. I have full confidence in the Wild drafting well, but I’m beginning to wonder how well this regime will be in developing players (not just AHL, but NHL time and development).

 

Great article, Abbott. I share largely the same perspective.

I could not agree with you and Tony more.

[Mateo3xm]

On 4/11/2023 at 6:01 PM, Protec said:

Oh geez. This is what the Wild did when they gave him a bunch of time earlier this season.

He's a little Euro guy of which there's only one successful NHLer currently in Zuccarello.

I challenge anyone to name a great little Euro player from history.

Rossi was not the player the Wild should have picked. He's not translating to the NHL. Other players from his draft have done fine in depth roles. Just admit he's an example of an OHL standout season turned hypefest. Not an NHL style game. Go ahead and keep trying though, just like the Fletcher era. Rossi's not another iteration of Tuch who wasn't given a decent chance or time. He's been a pro now two full seasons with NHL chances and he's looked worse than Beckman and Walker in terms of jam, fire in the belly, opportunity generation etc. 

You can't make passive little Euro guys into something they're not. If he needs to be on the top lines, PP with all the studs to succeed like Addison then that tells me everything I need to know. Support guy, skill guy, specialist. How many roles does a team have like that? Rossi fell to ninth and the Wild got sucker'd. They should have stuck with picking Lundell, Mercer, or Jarvis. It's easy to see now how it played out and didn't seem too bad then. Now it's pretty clear the better judgement would've been to get a NA player with a NHL style game.

Kevin Fiala is a “little Euro guy”.

There’s your example.

not really sure why you’re infatuated with him being a Euro guy.

I can see the size thing but that’s about it.

[Protec]

^^^

Infatuated is a weird word to use. I would say I'm aware of the differences between European hockey and North American hockey. I.e. the "little guys" like Parise are tough with a nose for the puck and cut their teeth against top NA competition. Little guys like Fiala (who is also bigger than Rossi by a little bit) have dynamic speed or shiftiness to generate chances for themselves. I'm tired of everyone saying how great Rossi is or is gonna be when we've seen doodley-squat so far except non-factor or -minus games. There's a reason most teams like taking bigger North American players. It's because that is the formula for success in the NHL where the majority of guys are NA players with some size who can skate well, shoot the puck, or deke like Fiala. Rossi checks a few boxes but there's at least a few not checked. If all things are equal I'd take the longer, bigger player. Maybe Rossi will still get there but so far he doesn't show me an exceptional quality that is certain at all plus he had a heart injury. I think the Wild need to trade him and Addison before their value or potential is toast.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Protec