Article: The Wild Are Letting the Tail Wag the Dog With Marco Rossi

[AKwildkraken]

I really think Shooter is playing the RFA status of Rossi quite well at the moment.  If he's down talking Rossi, other teams will be interested in making an offer.  Perhaps to the point that other teams try to low ball him.  If Rossi accepts a low ball offer we can choose to match it and get Rossi on the cheap. If a team offers over 7.02 million and say goodbye to Rossi, we end up with a first second and third round draft pick.  

I estimate Rossi is worth right around 7 million a year for a long term deal, say 5+ years. The key to RFA is having the cap space to counter offer, which we have.  

If we do keep Rossi, and for the record I hope we do, I'd like to find someone who can play skilled and big next to him in a top six role. I also think he can learn to play with more grit, as he has shown improvement from his previous years.  He is still young and growing.

Edited May 17 by AKwildkraken

[Need4speed99]

On 5/16/2025 at 3:03 PM, OldDutchChip said:

Tom - you are the GM - i am assuming you are signing Rossi LT? So what is the right contract and placement on the lines for him. Go ahead - give me the $ and Y. $10MM for 8?

Did the Wild bench Nyquist for his lack of attention to detail? Of course not. He’s a 35-year-old veteran. Still, they could have demoted Nyquist, elevated Rossi, and moved Hartman to his natural position on the wing. - demoted him where? you realize that 3rd and 4th line played almost EXACT amount of even strength minutes? and Rossi and Trenin and Braz were delivering results - WHY would you break them up? so that Rossi goes to line with Freddy and MJ? do you think that line can make a play? can they hold their own? No, of course not! Or you want Hartman to be given the task to babysit Rossi when he is being deployed against the very best Vegas lines? Nope - protect Rossi! Seriously! Rossi was rightfully placed on the line where his skills could be used. And given time against weaker matchup and the right players surrounding him. 

How about Frederick Gaudreau? The 32-year-old didn’t have any points but played 14 minutes per game in the playoffs. Rossi couldn’t have taken his spot? so let's place Rossi and Mj and Nyquist as a line? just imagine that line .... oh goose bumps! There are matchups to consider and ROssi could not cut it against Vegas top 6. Plain and simple. He got soft minutes because he could not be trusted against top dogs of vegas

Instead, they’ve ostracized him because he doesn’t fit their preferred player prototype.  they did not. rossi struggled. got demoted (deservingly). then rossi found some chemistry with trenin. and hynes left him there to give the team (which is more important than one player - even one as great as Rossi) some sort of balance. maybe if he put $ aside and showed up during the last part of the season and in the playoffs - he'd be signed to the same contract as Boldy (if not higher) - instead he let it become this soap opera

The Wild are about to let a player who went from 40 to 60 points this season at a position they need because Guerin has to squint to see him from his seat in the 300 level.  sometimes players get moved. he is not our priority. he is at most - 4th in the importance ranking among forwards and likely that's too high. so why all the hysteria? 

They will trade skill for size worked out for billy when he got Fabers fat ass for skilled Forward? some say...

Yep, you know shit about hockey. Unless that was all satire, we need fans like you to do what they do best, such glue.

 

Everyone else, you put your second point scorer on the 4th line when 3 other guys DID absolutely NOTHING, on the 4th line? They all played above him. He was negated by ( at best, 4th line veterans). Seriously, you either don't watch hockey or love guerilla too much. THERE is ZERO reason to support him. He had a 5 yr plan to win, we are at yr 8 and looking the same. Mediocrity. 

Now he wants to trade a top point getter.... oh yes, why not. How he was treated and all is now going away since bill7 fired those guys last year. 

How does any smart human think this OK? What does he get, if it's a prospect, we should storm the building and beat him. We got rid of a up and coming star for a darn prospect? Maybe a pick or included. How does that help in an organization where only overused vets are worthy. Are the rest of you done being stupid? Billy g is a moron. But that includes liepold. 

[Need4speed99]

But figure out how to stay away from morons. Stop supporting the Wild with liepold. You think I'm wrong, look up his track record. We talk about history, I'll bet anything liepold and billy overpay for a guy like boeser and possibly Bennet... they would get crazy long term with a high ava, to sign them. STUPID!

 

They will pull another parise/suter to  make it happen. And then..... the mediocrity starts again. Have ANYONE of you realized this.

[Tony Abbott]

"Ah, centers aren't the priority. Who cares what happens there?"

Minnesota Wild, 2000-2025.

[ArizonaWildFan]

8 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

but not enough skill and toughness in top 6

Wins a puck battle along the boards in the offensive zone for the assist, finds open ice and buries a beautiful pass for the goal, and without hesitation takes on 6'3" 202 lb Haiden Guhle after a cheap hit on Kaprizov. That's why fans love him, his teammates love him, and 31 teams in the league want him on their roster.

The first seven games KK was out with an injury, the Wild went 5-2, they scored 19 goals (2.71 per game), Boldy had 3G/2A and Rossi had 3G/2A. The next 21 games without both Kirill and JEEK, the Wild went 8-13 (IMO Kaprizov is the best player on the team but Ek is the most valuable and the straw that stirs the drink) and scored 45 goals (2.14 per game). In those 21 games, Boldy had 6G/13A and Rossi had 4G/5A.

I go back to the BG/JH post season media availability where Guerin shoved a knife in Rossi's back by saying that the team needs to get Ek some help in the off season and take some of the pressure off of him, alluding to a lack of center depth. Where was the help to take pressure off of Rossi when Ek was out for over a quarter of the season? Billy gives Ek a free pass for lack of production in the playoffs but plays the 9 in 22 card on Rossi when Ek was out.

The Wild are a much better team and organization with Marco Rossi and without Bill Guerin.

 

[OldDutchChip]

45 minutes ago, Need4speed99 said:

Yep, you know shit about hockey. Unless that was all satire, we need fans like you to do what they do best, such glue.

 

Everyone else, you put your second point scorer on the 4th line when 3 other guys DID absolutely NOTHING, on the 4th line? They all played above him. He was negated by ( at best, 4th line veterans). Seriously, you either don't watch hockey or love guerilla too much. THERE is ZERO reason to support him. He had a 5 yr plan to win, we are at yr 8 and looking the same. Mediocrity. 

Now he wants to trade a top point getter.... oh yes, why not. How he was treated and all is now going away since bill7 fired those guys last year. 

How does any smart human think this OK? What does he get, if it's a prospect, we should storm the building and beat him. We got rid of a up and coming star for a darn prospect? Maybe a pick or included. How does that help in an organization where only overused vets are worthy. Are the rest of you done being stupid? Billy g is a moron. But that includes liepold. 

what?

 

[OldDutchChip]

36 minutes ago, Need4speed99 said:

But figure out how to stay away from morons. Stop supporting the Wild with liepold. You think I'm wrong, look up his track record. We talk about history, I'll bet anything liepold and billy overpay for a guy like boeser and possibly Bennet... they would get crazy long term with a high ava, to sign them. STUPID!

 

They will pull another parise/suter to  make it happen. And then..... the mediocrity starts again. Have ANYONE of you realized this.

dude relax - it's just hockey

[OldDutchChip]

27 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

Wins a puck battle along the boards in the offensive zone for the assist, finds open ice and buries a beautiful pass for the goal, and without hesitation takes on 6'3" 202 lb Haiden Guhle after a cheap hit on Kaprizov. That's why fans love him, his teammates love him, and 31 teams in the league want him on their roster.

The first seven games KK was out with an injury, the Wild went 5-2, they scored 19 goals (2.71 per game), Boldy had 3G/2A and Rossi had 3G/2A. The next 21 games without both Kirill and JEEK, the Wild went 8-13 (IMO Kaprizov is the best player on the team but Ek is the most valuable and the straw that stirs the drink) and scored 45 goals (2.14 per game). In those 21 games, Boldy had 6G/13A and Rossi had 4G/5A.

I go back to the BG/JH post season media availability where Guerin shoved a knife in Rossi's back by saying that the team needs to get Ek some help in the off season and take some of the pressure off of him, alluding to a lack of center depth. Where was the help to take pressure off of Rossi when Ek was out for over a quarter of the season? Billy gives Ek a free pass for lack of production in the playoffs but plays the 9 in 22 card on Rossi when Ek was out.

The Wild are a much better team and organization with Marco Rossi and without Bill Guerin.

 

you found a clip where Rossi still had spunk? haha good! i mean you have to go after the player and every one of Kap's teammates would have done the same (probably a bit more during the actual fight - but whatever - a scrap is a scrap). 

Guerin shoved a knife in Rossi's back by saying that the team needs to get Ek some help getting a bit over the top dark here - he said it like it is - Rossi cannot be trusted for top 6 C spot and yes - Ek needs help. 

The Wild are a much better team and organization with Marco Rossi and without Bill Guerin. what? so the same Bill that signed Ek, Boldy and Kap? so if all three are gone but Rossi is here - all is well? or maybe he actually understand the TEAM need a bit better than some people on this forum? 

[mnhockeyfan03]

I can’t wait for Rossi to be traded soon so we can stop with all these homer articles.  Just to set expectations for everyone he won’t generate the trade value people think. It will be a package.  I hope Billy goes after a true 1C in a package.  Nelson should only be a 3C and nothing more under 5mm x3 years.  He wants to play here close to his family.  Well then take a fair deal or play elsewhere.  Hard no on Boeser at any cost. Yes on Tippett.  Yes on Larkin, Sid, Thompson, Brady. Yes on Bennet as a 3C. Zucc shouldn’t play higher that 3rd line and gone after this year.  Get rid of Spurg or Faber to clear up cap space.  

[Need4speed99]

I am relaxed, it's just the same old with this team and the so called "real fans" lap it up and go along. 

How long does mediocrity run dry? How long does the exact same thing get old? 

They keep going with the "no rebuild, we are competitive shtick and idiots lap it up. 

I'll bet anything they overpay some mid range players crazy amounts to get them here and we are right back in the parise/super cap hell. 

[Need4speed99]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

what?

 

So billy signed kap, ek, boldy, and Faber... that did what? Make them competitive but not contenders.

I am all not saying he shouldn't but all his other moves have done nothing to the team a contender. He has hindered that. He supposedly had a 5 yr plan to contend, it's going on yr 9 and he has done NOTHING. He signs a bunch of aging vets, alienates a top point producer(Fiala anyone) and has the team EXACTLY where they were 8 yrs ago. What did he improve? What has he done? The team is exactly in the same position when he took over.

All that's left is overpaying a couple good(not great) players and the wild are EXACTLY where they were when he took over.

He's already done that, alot. But let's wait till free agency to fully access it.

[Need4speed99]

5 hours ago, AKwildkraken said:

I really think Shooter is playing the RFA status of Rossi quite well at the moment.  If he's down talking Rossi, other teams will be interested in making an offer.  Perhaps to the point that other teams try to low ball him.  If Rossi accepts a low ball offer we can choose to match it and get Rossi on the cheap. If a team offers over 7.02 million and say goodbye to Rossi, we end up with a first second and third round draft pick.  

I estimate Rossi is worth right around 7 million a year for a long term deal, say 5+ years. The key to RFA is having the cap space to counter offer, which we have.  

If we do keep Rossi, and for the record I hope we do, I'd like to find someone who can play skilled and big next to him in a top six role. I also think he can learn to play with more grit, as he has shown improvement from his previous years.  He is still young and growing.

How does that help them now? They lose a 60 pt guy for a team that STRUGGLES( to put up points) for draft picks and prospects.... on a team that has a hard on for vets and barely plays prospects.

Those players will probably be traded for vets that are "gritty, grinders" that billy covets.

[Fezig]

22 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Shout out to FredJohnson for the Duck Duck go browser recommendation.  GAME CHANGER!!!

I'm transferring 1M Schrute bucks to your account now.  

I prefer Brave. It has more privacy features so I rarely ever get pop-ups.

[AKwildkraken]

8 hours ago, Need4speed99 said:

How does that help them now? They lose a 60 pt guy for a team that STRUGGLES( to put up points) for draft picks and prospects.... on a team that has a hard on for vets and barely plays prospects.

Those players will probably be traded for vets that are "gritty, grinders" that billy covets.

Let's review who we traded for last year.  Jiricek for a first, Hunt and some change.  A second for Nyquist.  And Marat for Brazeau.  Brazeau would be considered a grit guy, but not Nyquist or Jiricek.  

Also, our grit guys showed up in the playoffs.  Foligno, Harman, Trenin, and I would even add Brazeau to the list, all played well against Vegas.  

All that being said, I'm expecting Rossi to stay in Minnesota, not getting let loose on an offer sheet.  

[ArizonaWildFan]

Remember Alex Goligoski? He was one of us. Born in Grand Rapids, MN (same hospital as me), played H.S. in GR, played for the Gophers, and came back to finish his NHL career in Minny.

Billy signed him to a 1yr/$5M contract in 2021-2022. Then he signed him to a 2yr/$4M ($2M AAV) contract for 22-23 and 23-24. Nice way to send him off into the sunset. He played well, or as well as could be expected and it was good for the team, player and the fans. Good but not great.

If Guerin can do the same with Brock Nelson, go for it. Give him a year at $7M, the money is there, and see what happens. He's a proven commodity and worth the risk. Make that your offseason splash and leave it at that.

Sign KK and Rossi, don't bring back any of the dead weight UFA's, and see what Yurov, Ohgren, Jiricek and the other young guns can do. Ek, Rossi, Nelson and Gaudreau would be solid up the middle. If Yurov and/or Ohgren pan out, trade Rossi at the deadline or next offseason. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Message to GMBG: Keep it simple, Stupid!

[OldDutchChip]

10 hours ago, Need4speed99 said:

I am relaxed, it's just the same old with this team and the so called "real fans" lap it up and go along. 

How long does mediocrity run dry? How long does the exact same thing get old? 

They keep going with the "no rebuild, we are competitive shtick and idiots lap it up. 

I'll bet anything they overpay some mid range players crazy amounts to get them here and we are right back in the parise/super cap hell. 

i am not happy with 30 years of loosing either 🍻

hence i am a proponent of going all in now when we have the best player on our team 

focus on the current situation and stop obsessing over what will happen in 5-10 years. for once be bold and go after a difference maker. 

• if rossi becomes great in 5 years - good for him - but that doesn't help us now
• if zeev takes 5 years to mature - good for him - but that doesn't help us now

you cannot be afraid to deal good players or good prospects. if you are - you will forever be in this mush. kap needs help now, cash in those futures for the now and try to win. 

 

[OldDutchChip]

32 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

Remember Alex Goligoski? He was one of us. Born in Grand Rapids, MN (same hospital as me), played H.S. in GR, played for the Gophers, and came back to finish his NHL career in Minny.

Billy signed him to a 1yr/$5M contract in 2021-2022. Then he signed him to a 2yr/$4M ($2M AAV) contract for 22-23 and 23-24. Nice way to send him off into the sunset. He played well, or as well as could be expected and it was good for the team, player and the fans. Good but not great.

If Guerin can do the same with Brock Nelson, go for it. Give him a year at $7M, the money is there, and see what happens. He's a proven commodity and worth the risk. Make that your offseason splash and leave it at that.

Sign KK and Rossi, don't bring back any of the dead weight UFA's, and see what Yurov, Ohgren, Jiricek and the other young guns can do. Ek, Rossi, Nelson and Gaudreau would be solid up the middle. If Yurov and/or Ohgren pan out, trade Rossi at the deadline or next offseason. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Message to GMBG: Keep it simple, Stupid!

ok one more time - Kap will only sign if he can win. 

• Kap knows what type of player Rossi is
• Yurov and Ohgren are complete unknowns and will take time to develop and fully form
• so now we inject old fart Nelson 

and that's how we attract Kap to stay? this is the team that will win? you serious? the same team plus unknown rookies and last-tour-nelly? wow you must think both Bill and Kap are Stupid

 

[Will D. Ness]

15 hours ago, AKwildkraken said:

I estimate Rossi is worth right around 7 million a year for a long term deal, say 5+ years.

Let's do the math:

Anton Lundell (RFA) accepted a 6x5.  This is the benchmark for me.

Rossi rejected a 5x5 and counters with a 8x5?  

Highest possible free market value for Rossi is a QO less than 7.02M, which will require a first and a third.  I think we agree nobody will go over 7.02M.

The bottom line here is that Rossi decided to leverage it all and play hardball with a benchmark of 6x5 out there and a max of 7x5 (that includes a first and a third pick of which the value he doesn't get).

I think 6x5 was in play with BG.  Rossi isn't quite as rounded and consistent as Lundell, but might have more offensive upside.  The max Rossi could hope for is pretty well understood to be 7x5 due to RFA.  There really isn't much to be negotiated.  6x5 is a generous benchmark IMO.

Now in regard to this whole "Rossi is a victim" argument on this forum and basically in all of Minnesota crybaby media... I have something to say:

Why is Rossi playing hardball and leveraging the team for such a little piece of pie?  

For me, my best guess is that Rossi doesn't want to be here.  He basically checked out a couple months ago.  We all could see it in his play and attitude.  Rossi isn't the victim here.  I mean maybe he is the victim of his own agent, but the Wild didn't do him wrong by offering 5x5.

It should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

[Enforceror]

6 hours ago, Fezig said:

I prefer Brave. It has more privacy features so I rarely ever get pop-ups.

Another vote for Brave. I like it.

[mnhockeyfan03]

Slogan this year should be Go Big or Go home.  Make big trades to go for it and attract good players here that want to win.  Set a precedent we want to win now.  Kaps prime is next 3-4 years.  We can’t wait for 5 years the window will be over.  Go for it now.  Get a big 1C through trade and it will make the free agents for attracted to sign he as they know we are going for a cup. Right now we are stuck in the mud without it.  Get a 1C through trade then Bennett.  Or go after Barzal/Lee or Thompson/Peterka in a Faber or Zeev and Rossi trade and then sign another top 6 fwd and trade spurge.  We need lots of offensive.  Plenty of Dmen can be found that are good for 3-5mm.  We need scorers for fwd and Dmen that are serviceable. 

[Up North Guy]

4 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

ok one more time - Kap will only sign if he can win. 

• Kap knows what type of player Rossi is
• Yurov and Ohgren are complete unknowns and will take time to develop and fully form
• so now we inject old fart Nelson 

and that's how we attract Kap to stay? this is the team that will win? you serious? the same team plus unknown rookies and last-tour-nelly? wow you must think both Bill and Kap are Stupid

 

I sure am glad that we have an in-house member of Kap's inner circle to let us know exactly what he is thinking.

[WildNotMild]

4 hours ago, Will D. Ness said:

Let's do the math:

Anton Lundell (RFA) accepted a 6x5.  This is the benchmark for me.

Rossi rejected a 5x5 and counters with a 8x5?  

Highest possible free market value for Rossi is a QO less than 7.02M, which will require a first and a third.  I think we agree nobody will go over 7.02M.

The bottom line here is that Rossi decided to leverage it all and play hardball with a benchmark of 6x5 out there and a max of 7x5 (that includes a first and a third pick of which the value he doesn't get).

I think 6x5 was in play with BG.  Rossi isn't quite as rounded and consistent as Lundell, but might have more offensive upside.  The max Rossi could hope for is pretty well understood to be 7x5 due to RFA.  There really isn't much to be negotiated.  6x5 is a generous benchmark IMO.

Now in regard to this whole "Rossi is a victim" argument on this forum and basically in all of Minnesota crybaby media... I have something to say:

Why is Rossi playing hardball and leveraging the team for such a little piece of pie?  

For me, my best guess is that Rossi doesn't want to be here.  He basically checked out a couple months ago.  We all could see it in his play and attitude.  Rossi isn't the victim here.  I mean maybe he is the victim of his own agent, but the Wild didn't do him wrong by offering 5x5.

It should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

Difference is that Lundell signed that contract in July 2024 BEFORE the higher cap numbers were released.  And if that was an existing comp, why did Billy offer 5x5 around the first of the year.  There is a lot of reporting by “Wild sources” about the 5x5 offer.  I haven’t seen anything legit that Rossi is asking for 8x8.  
 

Again, I think most people on this forum are fine if Rossi is gone, but will be upset and/or confused if an almost over the hill vet gets signed for 7+ per year.  This would be based on Rossi being young and still with upside years before the normal age when a player hits his prime.

[WildNotMild]

17 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

I sure am glad that we have an in-house member of Kap's inner circle to let us know exactly what he is thinking.

Especially when same source said Kaprizov definitely would NOT sign an extension unless Wild got to second round.

[OldDutchChip]

2 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

I sure am glad that we have an in-house member of Kap's inner circle to let us know exactly what he is thinking.

no one knows but you can be ready and actually have a plan 🍻

what zona describes is basically - running it back + reliance on unproven rookies and old ass nelly. 

you think that would excite Kap?  don't need to be an in-house member to see the flaw in that scenario

Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg are returning strong, with likely one or two more team pushing for WC (Blues/Utah) - but worry not - we got Brock Nelson and can again enjoy WC battle and R1 exit.....Kap is going to love it.....really, you think that is what he wants?

i think he wants and deserves better. if that costs us Rossi or Zeev or Faber or Ohgren or any unknown prospect - well pick the route - with Kap going for it - or run it back and wait for that 5-10-15 year plan to work out

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, WildNotMild said:

Especially when same source said Kaprizov definitely would NOT sign an extension unless Wild got to second round.

yes i did. but that doesn't mean we can't actually try to entice him and give him more than same old....no?

or you can just say whatever and plan around Rossi, if Kap is on-board OK, if not - no big, in little austrian we trust?

weird but ok

actually Not Weird, Wild right?