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.

[Lern2spell]

1 hour ago, IllicitFive said:

Spurge has a 10 team no trade list, so might be able to make a move. Brodin is full NMC so he stays

Brodin NMC is over, he has no trade protection, which worries me. When out of the lineup, I'd say the Wild miss Brodin more than Spurgeon, and Brodin is younger. I wouldnt give him up, but can see it happening if the right situation were to arise, given his games played per season the last few years. If Chisholm is re-signed, watch for Brodin to be moved. 

[MNCountryLife]

1 hour ago, IllicitFive said:

how do other teams do this

Great question.  I'm not sure BG knows that answer either.

You mention Florida.  Looks like Florida really divides their roster up into top 6 and bottom 6 for forwards and D.  Wow does Bobvrovski make a ton.

The Wild salaries are all over the place. Our roster would indicate that Zuc, Foligno and Hartman are top 6.  Boy.. looking at our Roster strictly through the lense of salary cap... it is messy.  It doesen't look well thought out at all.  BG may need to ask the very same question you posed.... "How do other successful teams build a roster?"

[Patrick]

22 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

Great question.  I'm not sure BG knows that answer either.

You mention Florida.  Looks like Florida really divides their roster up into top 6 and bottom 6 for forwards and D.  Wow does Bobvrovski make a ton.

The Wild salaries are all over the place. Our roster would indicate that Zuc, Foligno and Hartman are top 6.  Boy.. looking at our Roster strictly through the lense of salary cap... it is messy.  It doesen't look well thought out at all.  BG may need to ask the very same question you posed.... "How do other successful teams build a roster?"

This is very enlightening.  It suggest that BG is guided more by emotion than anything else.  What is the plan?  Is there a plan?  Overpaying for bottom 6 grinders and trading the best center the organization has ever drafted for peanuts doesn't sound like a winning strategy.

(To all the Rossi haters, Rossi is the BEST center we have ever drafted at this point in his career. Better than Ek or Koivu.  He is identical in size, weight and production to Brad Marchand....)

Weirdly, a person can make a good argument that BG is doing a great job and also a great argument that he should be fired immediately.   

[Citizen Strife]

Koivu averaged 50-60 points on shitty or kinda good teams for a decade and Ek trades Koivu's offensive production for being pissed off defensively all the time.  The main issue is he has durability concerns.

Rossi may have better offensive instincts, but saying he's better or going to be better than Ek and Koivu is a stretch.  Also, Granlund put up 70 points once.

Rossi offers a good balance that favors "good enough" defensive awareness with sneaky good offensive instincts you can't teach.  But I don't know if that is what Guerin wants in players: hence the endless impasse.

Edited 1 hour ago by Citizen Strife

[OldDutchChip]

Thanks, Justin! Good read -  but have to chime in with a few! 🙂

To take this offer more professionally than an insult, perhaps Rossi’s agent could consider it less of an offer than a jumping-off point for negotiations. 

looking at it from the other side - Billy gave Rossi a chance to show him what type of player he can be when Kap is not there, can he lead, can he take the next step? and Rossi flat out failed. He crumbled under pressure - the stats actually are somewhat favorable but the his play was not good. And once in the POs - he was borderline unplayable. Apart from the two goals (thank you Yasha) there was zero reason to play Rossi. Yes, the goals - that is what it comes down to for many posters here - stats don't lie! but they do - especially when you focus solely on them and use such a small data size. He was a liability on the ice. He could not defend, he played lazy and scared. He was hidden on that line for a reason. He could not be counted on to go up against the top 6 of Vegas.

If he thought the offer was insulting, then he really gave one back to the front office, insulting them with his play!

I really think Billy and Rossi need to come in and settle on a bridge deal . It will be mutually beneficial for both parties - Rossi can bet on himself and cash in in few years and Wild can have a bit more flexibility to pursue top 6 need. Yes Rossi may play on 3rd line, but it's better than 4th! 

How about this for exceeding expectations: dragging an aging, injured roster through the season from hell and into the playoffs? 

Well Kaprizov pretty much guaranteed we make the PO by going beast mode up until he was injured. So let's give him 99% of the credit. The rest of the team really did drag the team to the finish line. 

Sure, he didn’t do it alone. Brock Faber and Matt Boldy took on huge roles before the return of Kirill Kaprizov and during Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon’s absences. Even still, Rossi stepped into a top-line center role on a team with little help on either of the top two lines, and he produced significantly better than in his 2023-24 season 

i'll disagree here. Last 2 month - 9 points in 22 games. not really stepping in and saying "i got you!"

The only good-faith explanation to the Wild’s rumored intention to trade Rossi is that they think this season was an outlier.

it seems to be coming down to fit. they need to get bigger in top 6. they cannot add more tiny players there. they cannot compete against top teams that have both skill and power game. They have to somehow improve that and Rossi is just on the outs here. From current top 6 make up - he is the only one that has value - he is young and full of potential. 

In other words, if Guerin’s potential trade partners in a Rossi trade prefers to spend the offer sheet compensation, they can wait him out. If the Wild lose that game of chicken, they may have to kiss that Cup window goodbye. 

Cup window is linked directly to Kaprizov, not Rossi. During the PO Boldy stepped up, but he is not there yet. We need a star. Rossi is not that now, and won't be for few years (even if stars align and he is the second coming of Marchand....) Bill must look to package Rossi for proven player in the Top 6, even if it does cost a good defender 😉

Perhaps that’s the bottom line on Rossi’s story in Minnesota. He’s not part of a larger vision, and even the most creative short-term deals don’t leave enough cap space to realize that vision. 

i think a 2-3 bridge deal actually does allow both parties to walk away happy. Team has more funds to spend now - better product - more production from Rossi - bigger contract in 2-3 years. Bet on your self Rossi and do better than the last few month.

That still raises questions about Minnesota’s management over the past several seasons. Why bring in Judd Brackett to draft undersized producers like Rossi, Buium, and Riley Heidt if that doesn’t fit into management’s vision for a championship? 

maybe Rossi's upside had to be explored. some prospects develop that heavy game as they age, but Bill (and Hynes) has seen enough (or not enough) to call it good. 

[Burnt Toast]

1 hour ago, Patrick said:

Weirdly, a person can make a good argument that BG is doing a great job and also a great argument that he should be fired immediately.   

And pretty much everyone has a strong opinion one way or the other. I’m excited to see how his plan turns out. I’m definitely optimistic overall. Interesting that national media and out of market opinions on the job BG has been doing is generally a lot more positive than locally. Hopefully the Rossi saga ends well because the drama surrounding his status isn’t coming at a good time. After listening to some NHL agents talking about their clients I think personal relationships including wives, families and personalities play a pretty big role in building a roster. It’s rare to get an insider’s view of what’s really going on, unless of course they’re posting it on social media.