Article: Is Marco Rossi A Better Fit On the First Line?

[raithis]

Quote

After the Wild put Eriksson Ek on IR, Rossi has gotten a chance to prove again that he’s not a bust.

There hasn't been a question about whether he's a bust for some time.  His progression was slowed by covid and his heart issue, but starting last season he had showed he has enough heart, talent, and production that he is every ounce of the player that caused him to be drafted in the first round.  He's already proven he is the real deal.

Yeah, I wish he was a little bigger too, but we aren't going to be able to trade him for a young player with the same current level of skill and potential he already has.  He's shown in multiple games that he can be a clutch player to reach overtime and have a chance for 2pts.  I'd take Rossi's heart and work ethic over a guy with an extra 4in and 20lbs, though I still think that long term he'd be a better winger and should slot in to lines like a younger Zuccarello.

[Tony Abbott]

5 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

I listened to a bit of Wild on 7th, and Carter pointed out a game stat that 5/6 of Rossi's last few points came with Kap.  What the "Rossi's a passenger" people won't like is that 5/6 of Kap's points came with Rossi too.

Lest we forget that when Rossi went to line 2 with Hartman and Mojo, what line picked up their play?  Who was it who fed Middsy early on against the Jets first game?  Who was it that took advantage of Bob having a shit game and punched in a goal on the Panthers?

Rossi doesn't go multiple games without points, or he makes up for droughts with multi point games.  I'm continuing to see him in the mix and he has almost as many points as Boldy and is third on the team by a mile, even with Zuccarello out.

Rossi helps this team win.  If the playoffs come, and he gets shit, fine.  But he I would bet he wouldn't be the only guy not scoring.  He's still a guy worth betting on to consistently get you there.

They aren't garbage points either.  He scored with a minute to go last night.  The team needed scoring balance, and guess who stepped up?  How much more evidence does he need?

Also, like... Is Mats Zuccarello a passenger? Is JEEK a passenger for only scoring 30 when he spent half a season with Kirill? 

Great players play great with great players. Kaprizov's played about half his 5-on-5 minutes with Rossi, and both players are better together than they are apart. 

[OldDutchChip]

12 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Also, like... Is Mats Zuccarello a passenger? Is JEEK a passenger for only scoring 30 when he spent half a season with Kirill? 

Great players play great with great players. Kaprizov's played about half his 5-on-5 minutes with Rossi, and both players are better together than they are apart. 

Kaprizov is not great, he is one of a kind and an MVP

When I was saying he was top 5 - while others disagreed - I was off too

he is the BEST player in the league

this is  what allows all other pieces to worK

Saying great players play great with great players is good for Rossi Boldy Zucch and Ek but it is plain wrong to say that about kap

Playing with him Harty had Harty w 34 goals, Zyccy looks like an all-star and MJ looks like he could be an 80 pt player 

that is the motor, that is top dog in the league

Billy will help him, and to do that he’ll sacrifice Boldy (it worked for Vegas and panthers) bye Rossi 

 

Edited December 11 by OldDutchChip

[Beast]

I’d keep him on the first line.

Ek’s primary offensive skill is his net front presence.  Kaprisov seems to handle that (and every other part of the game) just fine.  Boldy is big enough to provide some of that and Rossi has shown a willingness to score from dirty areas.  No need to double up on that when you could spread it out and have an elite net front presence on the second line.

Defensive chops don’t matter quite as much when you’re driving possession at the rate Kaprisov and Boldy do, but Rossi holds up fine defensively.  Again, bumping Ek down provides an elite defender on a line that may need it more.

Rossi also seems to fit well with Kaprisov and Boldy stylistically.  Rossi seems to be a notch above Ek is regard to his hands, shot, etc.  Not that Ek is a detriment in that regard, but the little extra offensive juice from Rossi may open things up a bit more for Kaprisov and Boldy.

Rossi also has room to improve.  I think Ek is what he is at this point.  More time to gel with Kaprisov and Boldy may bring the high water mark up even more.

The real question is, what the heck do you with Zuccarrelo when he returns?  You can’t break up Boldy and Kap, IMO, but I also don’t want to see Mojo and Zuccarrelo on the same line.  That’s where another top 6 guy at deadline would be huge for this team.  Bump a less desirable guy off one of the PP units and make that second line a little more potent.

[mnfaninnc]

I'm still predicting a Rossi extension somewhere around late January/early February. I think he's proven to be a top 6 player. Why do we need to argue over the line? I think it comes down to matchups. Some nights, Rossi might be better with Kaprizov and Boldy, other nights it might be Ek. 

Beast has a real good conundrum going on in his head. What happens when Zuccarello returns? It isn't about Rossi being small, we can handle that even though I contend that he is short not small. Zuccy is small. This is the problem. We can find a place for Rossi to play against the Redwoods teams but where it gets difficult is to find the place with Zuccy in there too. Too many small forwards are a problem. Zuccy is old, that would be the subtraction, IMO. We simply must wait it out.

One thing Rossi has gotten good at, is getting inside on a larger player and stripping him. He's done this several times and it usually results in a nice scoring chance. I do see him getting pushed down more but he pops right back up, something others haven't necessarily been doing. 

What I'd like to see is us filling out the top 6 better. I think Johansson has played well this year, much better than last year, but he's not a good top 6 guy, at least, I'm not convinced of it. I think adding a guy like Tuch would go a long way into solving this issue. A Boldy-Rossi-Kaprizov line followed by a Zuccarello-Ek-Tuch line, on paper, looks really good to me. Switch things up and put Ek and Zuccy up with Kaprizov and drop Rossi and Boldy with Tuch. To me, both of those combinations look good on paper. 

Potentially, what would a Yurov-Ek-Tuch line look like? Or a Boldy-Ek-Tuch line with a Yurov-Rossi-Kaprizov line? I think all those parts could be interchangeable and I do expect that the extra year Yurov spent in Russia will add strength to his body and he'll be plenty ready for a top 6 spot from the get go. 

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

6 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

And the "but the playoffs" thing.  Has THIS Marco Rossi, has THIS Brock Faber, Kaprizov, Boldy, Gus, etc been in the playoffs?  no.  Because last year forced them to not be.  They are way better players now.  We don't know what Rossi does or doesn't do.  I'm withholding judgment on these players in that scenario (and screwing up what is looking like a good thing) just because the "chance" they might not be great in high pressure games.  

This 100%. There are a couple on here constantly bringing up playoff hockey and how Rossi won't be an impact player during it. 

There is simply zero evidence this is the case. We have never had the pleasure of seeing Rossi in playoffs so how can you say what he will or won't be.

What i will say is Rossi is looking like he will meet or exceed the stats that boldy got his first and second year. If we can extend him for 7m or less it will be a steal later as Boldy currently looks to be.

Trading for anything other than a young proven player on term is going to be a loss in the long run. Ottawa recently came out and said B Tkachuk isn't going anywhere after the trade rumors in New York. The UFA's pending don't contain any game breakers. I'll take a #1C over messing with chemistry and Rossi is that.

[OldDutchChip]

40 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'm still predicting a Rossi extension somewhere around late January/early February. I think he's proven to be a top 6 player. Why do we need to argue over the line? I think it comes down to matchups. Some nights, Rossi might be better with Kaprizov and Boldy, other nights it might be Ek. 

Beast has a real good conundrum going on in his head. What happens when Zuccarello returns? It isn't about Rossi being small, we can handle that even though I contend that he is short not small. Zuccy is small. This is the problem. We can find a place for Rossi to play against the Redwoods teams but where it gets difficult is to find the place with Zuccy in there too. Too many small forwards are a problem. Zuccy is old, that would be the subtraction, IMO. We simply must wait it out.

One thing Rossi has gotten good at, is getting inside on a larger player and stripping him. He's done this several times and it usually results in a nice scoring chance. I do see him getting pushed down more but he pops right back up, something others haven't necessarily been doing. 

What I'd like to see is us filling out the top 6 better. I think Johansson has played well this year, much better than last year, but he's not a good top 6 guy, at least, I'm not convinced of it. I think adding a guy like Tuch would go a long way into solving this issue. A Boldy-Rossi-Kaprizov line followed by a Zuccarello-Ek-Tuch line, on paper, looks really good to me. Switch things up and put Ek and Zuccy up with Kaprizov and drop Rossi and Boldy with Tuch. To me, both of those combinations look good on paper. 

Potentially, what would a Yurov-Ek-Tuch line look like? Or a Boldy-Ek-Tuch line with a Yurov-Rossi-Kaprizov line? I think all those parts could be interchangeable and I do expect that the extra year Yurov spent in Russia will add strength to his body and he'll be plenty ready for a top 6 spot from the get go. 

Zuccy stays until the end of his contract unless there’s health complications

But you are showing good lineup combos

tuch would cost Yurov 

in looking how mitchkov is playing-I’m not sure I’d trade away Yurov without seeing him (we already gifted away Tuch) 

I expect Billy to be active but to get someone good, you need to pay up

Rossi or Yurov or Zeev depending on deal and player 

Edited December 11 by OldDutchChip

[OldDutchChip]

2 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

This 100%. There are a couple on here constantly bringing up playoff hockey and how Rossi won't be an impact player during it. 

There is simply zero evidence this is the case. We have never had the pleasure of seeing Rossi in playoffs so how can you say what he will or won't be.

What i will say is Rossi is looking like he will meet or exceed the stats that boldy got his first and second year. If we can extend him for 7m or less it will be a steal later as Boldy currently looks to be.

Trading for anything other than a young proven player on term is going to be a loss in the long run. Ottawa recently came out and said B Tkachuk isn't going anywhere after the trade rumors in New York. The UFA's pending don't contain any game breakers. I'll take a #1C over messing with chemistry and Rossi is that.

Pleasure of watching Rossi in playoffs …. What is this ballet? We’ve seen Kap getting demolished. Enough with stupidity. Rossi and zuccy won’t be enough. Ek will be back and will likely be glued to Boldy line w MJ. That leaves tiny line. Pleasure … you like watching Dallas or Winnipeg beating the shit out of us….then yes - pleasure indeed

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

this is  what allows all other pieces to worK

Kap is on tear this year. He is playing the best hockey of his life with Rossi! He has spent more TOI with him then anyone else. You really think Kap would be happy to watch him go?

[OldDutchChip]

4 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

Kap is on tear this year. He is playing the best hockey of his life with Rossi! He has spent more TOI with him then anyone else. You really think Kap would be happy to watch him go?

Kap is playing well with everyone 

he would be happy winning the cup vs suffering an injury - or is Suter the only cross checker in the league?

did you just miss MJ posting 3 pts? Sign him for 3x4??

Edited December 11 by OldDutchChip

[Tony Abbott]

3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

Kaprizov is not great, he is one of a kind and an MVP

When I was saying he was top 5 - while others disagreed - I was off too

he is the BEST player in the league

this is  what allows all other pieces to worK

Saying great players play great with great players is good for Rossi Boldy Zucch and Ek but it is plain wrong to say that about kap

Playing with him Harty had Harty w 34 goals, Zyccy looks like an all-star and MJ looks like he could be an 80 pt player 

that is the motor, that is top dog in the league

Billy will help him, and to do that he’ll sacrifice Boldy (it worked for Vegas and panthers) bye Rossi 

 

No one's saying Kap's not an MVP, but saying that Rantanen is a product of MacKinnon or Point is a product of Kucherov is ridiculous. If Kaprizov is doing career-best work with Rossi, and Rossi's playing great with Kap, that's not being a passenger, it's a great player elevating an MVP, and vice versa.

[Tony Abbott]

1 hour ago, OldDutchChip said:

Zuccy stays until the end of his contract unless there’s health complications

But you are showing good lineup combos

tuch would cost Yurov 

in looking how mitchkov is playing-I’m not sure I’d trade away Yurov without seeing him (we already gifted away Tuch) 

I expect Billy to be active but to get someone good, you need to pay up

Rossi or Yurov or Zeev depending on deal and player 

Talk about learning lessons from Vegas... didn't they only win after they traded Tuch?

[OldDutchChip]

4 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

No one's saying Kap's not an MVP, but saying that Rantanen is a product of MacKinnon or Point is a product of Kucherov is ridiculous. If Kaprizov is doing career-best work with Rossi, and Rossi's playing great with Kap, that's not being a passenger, it's a great player elevating an MVP, and vice versa.

Rossi is not Rantanen or Point - stop with this

kaprizov was amazing day 1, it’s not like Rossi has unlocked Kaprizov / the way Kap is playing this year - is just unreal 

Rossi is good, not great. He has stepped in fine, just like Zuccy has, Harty has, EK, Boldy, even MJ - that’s the impact of having a phenom on your team. 

[OldDutchChip]

8 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Talk about learning lessons from Vegas... didn't they only win after they traded Tuch?

They sacrificed tuch for better player

Panthers sacrificed Huby for Tkachuk

you have to pay up and not be afraid to hold on to players if they can be parlayed into better ones

[Tony Abbott]

5 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

Rossi is not Rantanen or Point - stop with this

kaprizov was amazing day 1, it’s not like Rossi has unlocked Kaprizov / the way Kap is playing this year - is just unreal 

Rossi is good, not great. He has stepped in fine, just like Zuccy has, Harty has, EK, Boldy, even MJ - that’s the impact of having a phenom on your team. 

82-game pace from 2020-2024: 47 goals, 97 points

Previous career high: 47 goals, 108 points (81 games)

81-game pace in 2024-25: 54 goals, 129 points

I'd say that's a pretty big difference. 

[Patrick]

In what world has Jon Merrill stepped up? He has been atrocious night in and night out. He managed to be on the ice for 3 goals against (and arguably directly responsible for them) last night with under 15 minutes of ice time. Frankly he sucks.

[mnhockeyfan03]

Rossi is our best trade chip.  We play in the west and must be bigger.  Rossi is a good player but to be in the west and have to play Dallas and Winnipeg we have to be bigger and deeper at center.  Signing Rossi to 6-7mm doesn’t help us.  Not trading him and letting him walk would be stupid.  That’s why they will trade him with a package for an elite top 6 fwd with size that has term or will resign for a good price.  I like Rossi but the goal is to win the cup and he won’t get us there.  You have to give up something good to get something good. Rossi will thrive on an eastern conference team. 

[Citizen Strife]

Yes, because teams giving up top 6 players with size AND scoring skill are just banging on the door...

[mnhockeyfan03]

As the year goes on teams outside the playoffs will trade top6 guys.  Tuch, B Tchuck, B Nelson, Marchenko would be targets.  Only Tuch, Brady, Marchenko will cost Rossi plus a prospect but Nelson could be had for a prospect or pick.  Then Rossi could be used for something else if someone is will to take spurgeon not on his list.  Then we can go wild and really make a push.  

[MacGyver]

10 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Yes, because teams giving up top 6 players with size AND scoring skill are just banging on the door...

Seems to be a theme here that all you have to do to get player X from team X is package Rossi with some of our prospects and  futures and it's a done deal. No need to ask team X if player X is even available or if player X is willing to come here. And of course we are the only team in the league making a offer for player X if he is even available. The thought seems to be every team in the league is salivating over Rossi except us. 

Edited December 12 by MacGyver

[MNCountryLife]

Would be hard to see Rossi get traded.  I think his max potential is still a long ways off and he is already a solid center putting up respectable numbers.  You don't trade guys like him away.  It isn't just his point production. He has a complete 200 foot responsible game.      

[MNCountryLife]

Nojo is the guy you trade out.  His lack of effort often causes substantial d-zone time and allows other teams to break out easily.   His play is sub par.  Addition through subtraction.  Many teams will see him as an upgrade.  This might be the only move I would seriously consider unless a serious upgrade knocks on the door with a very good deal.

[Enforceror]

Looks like Ohgren is finding his game with 8 goals in 9 games.

Wallstedt got a shutout last night.

Iowa with 3 straight W's

From what I can tell, Jiricek did not play last night.

[mnfaninnc]

18 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

tuch would cost Yurov 

I'm not so sure here. Buffalo currently stands 7th in the Atlantic division, 1 pt. out of last. They've already switched coaches this past offseason, and the start to their year has to be extremely disappointing. While Tuch has a year left on his deal, this team may need a pretty significant shakeup. Are they willing to tear it down again?

I'm thinking patience is wearing thin in Buffalo, yet their owner is probably more concerned with the Bills at this time, letting the Sabres fly under the radar. On paper, this team looks like it should be way better than it is. What is wrong? Well, it wasn't Skinner, he's in Edmonton now.

The other thing that Buffalo has is a lot of players marinating in development. I'm not sure what it would take, but I'm pretty sure that Yurov, The Wall, and Buium are on the untouchables list. So, that leaves us with Heidt and possibly Lambos. Just looking at their roster, I'm guessing they may want some structured defenders over forwards. They've got plenty of cap space and plenty of young forwards to make the jump. They've also got plenty of the puck moving defenders and need some guys who can defend. I would wonder what a Brodin could do for that lineup, and if I even want to entertain the possibility of a Brodin trade? 

What really should have them in a foul mood is losing a 4-0 lead to Colorado. They had that game in the bag, but their defense (team defense) couldn't handle it. One would have to think that the playoff drought in Buffalo is wearing on the fanbase, and they need to get there pretty quick. 7th in the Atlantic isn't getting it done. I wonder if they would have any interest in a Declan Chisholm? 

To our disadvantage, we don't have much cap space to work with, meaning retention. Guerin has made a decent deal with the GM before in the Greenway deal. I think there is a deal here to be made, but, it may cost us dearly in futures. Would we need a 2026 1st? Would adding Jirzy and Tuch put us in a place where we're pretty set for the time being? Is it worth that type of gamble? 

This much I can say, gaining Tuch and Jirzy helps out Kaprizov immediately. If Guerin is eyeing that front, a 2026 1st isn't too much compensation.

[Tony Abbott]

16 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

We play in the west and must be bigger.  Rossi is a good player but to be in the west and have to play Dallas and Winnipeg we have to be bigger and deeper at center.

This is something people keep saying but it isn't true. Seven of the ten tallest/heaviest teams in the NHL are in the Eastern Conference.