Article: The Wild Shouldn't Offload Rossi To Clear A 2026 Cap Logjam

[Justin Hein]

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[Citizen Strife]

If Rossi isn't traded for an equal player, or used as high leverage to get a better one, it is a complete waste.  If names start falling off the board, or people aren't interested in a trade, just keep the guy.

The Wild have way too many holes behind Kap and Boldy scoring wise to say, "give us a first back."

That first round pick coming back, could be anything, even a boat!

 

 

[MNCountryLife]

Tough to envision a trade where we get a player that puts up equal points as Rossi that fits BGs vision of big, burly and scoring.  BG has often traded a player away for assets that contribute to a secondary trade.  I think this is more likely.  He trades away Rossi for draft picks and uses that for his secondary trade.   I would sure like to see BG hold on to some of that cash so the TDL can be fun.

[IllicitFive]

Whenever I see more issues with the cap space all I can think is how do other teams do this, like Florida? Our biggest cost is the blue line. The Panthers D core make 7, 5.75. 2.5 1.15 and 850 k. The Wild at 8.5, 7.58, 6, 4.35, and 1.25.  Having guys like Ek and Boldy locked in at 5.25 and 7 currently and hopefully continues to look like a steal. While we constantly look at Moose and Harts at 4 each, and Trenin at 3.5 as being the issues, together they account for 11.5 for 3 spots and all fill a role of 3rd or 4th line. That together would get you a mid high end 1st or 2nd line guy with a few bucks left over. Yes losing those 3 would get you a Brady T cap space wise but still need to fill out a roster and have room for injuries.

All that to say with Kap getting a raise, Gus probably getting a raise, is the back end where we need to start looking to get rid of guys? Some champion dropping Faber and his 8.5, though his projected value as a defender is over 8.5, especially with raising cap space. He is also young, plays a ton of minutes, been relatively healthy and lines up against top lines of other teams relatively effectively. Spurge has a 10 team no trade list, so might be able to make a move. Brodin is full NMC so he stays but Zucc has a 10 team nmc, so another option. 

With the Rossi chatter seems there is a theme of having the hard convo's about needs and who should go. So lets take it a step further, Zucc and Spurge are not getting younger and account for almost 12 mil. Moose and Hartman aren't going anywhere due to NMC so Trenin can be added, Midds with 4.35 as well. This opens up spots for the young guys to back fill for cheap thusly opening spending room in FA. May not be popular but these dump the most cap space with minimal detriment to the team as a whole and running with 2 line of AHL players who may not be ready or may not preform. This will also allow younger guys to get a tryout and if they don't preform see if someone else will step up. Get an honest evaluation of the prospect pool.