Article: Trading Marco Rossi Is Acting Like the Flames and Sabres, Not the Panthers

[OldDutchChip]

11 minutes ago, fikifuka said:

You didn't get it. Reach out for professional help. Come back in september with a new, healthy mindset.

i got it. you prefer to attack people rather than discuss topics. i guess your choice. 

[OldDutchChip]

1 minute ago, FredJohnson said:

I didn’t know I could block him. Thanks!

oh joy!

[fikifuka]

16 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

i got it. you prefer to attack people rather than discuss topics. i guess your choice. 

I admit that it was harsh what I said and recommended to you, in public. Sorry for that, ODC. But like the majority here I prefer to discuss, read and post  substantial, serious thoughts, ideas, facts. Hope we agree. 

[Sam]

ODC, apparently people can’t handle differing opinions. What would be the purpose of these discussion boards without some color and some banter. I guess at least you’re notorious..

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, FredJohnson said:

3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

People have different of opinion, it’s allowed. Unless you believe otherwise. Which I guess is also allowed, but makes you not a very good person. 

Differing opinions are allowed by you. (Thanks for allowing that.) But wait…if I have a different opinion it’s not allowed. BUT BUT WAIT…you guess it’s allowed and it makes me “not a very good person”.

I disagree with ODC's approach and opinions fairly frequently, but not everything is as bad as it sometimes might initially sound.

His delivery of this comment was a bit tricky, but to clarify in other words, I believe the correct interpretation of the words above are as follows:

People are allowed to have a difference of opinion. If you believe people are not allowed to have a difference of opinion, that could also be allowable as a belief, but that belief would make you "not a very good person".

 

Edited Monday at 06:19 PM by Imyourhuckleberry

[ArizonaWildFan]

3 hours ago, WildNotMild said:

You can actually block him under settings.  He won’t change because he can’t consider that he might be the common problem.

I really enjoy this site for the most part. Good content from the writers, good posts from the readers... for the most part.

I will be blocking ODC, not because I agree or disagree with him, but because of the utterly ridiculous nature of too many of his posts.

If you want to see what I mean, read ODC's post at 1:37 PM on Saturday on this story thread. Then read my response to his post, which was a direct question to me, at 2:30 PM Saturday and then finish up by reading his post at 2:38 PM Saturday.

Sheer and utter nonsense. Twisting words. I don't have the time for his garbage anymore. The only way to get rid of someone like that is to not acknowledge and engage with them.

Good night, ODC!

Fortunately, I won't have to read your response.

[WildNotMild]

15 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

I really enjoy this site for the most part. Good content from the writers, good posts from the readers... for the most part.

I will be blocking ODC, not because I agree or disagree with him, but because of the utterly ridiculous nature of too many of his posts.

If you want to see what I mean, read ODC's post at 1:37 PM on Saturday on this story thread. Then read my response to his post, which was a direct question to me, at 2:30 PM Saturday and then finish up by reading his post at 2:38 PM Saturday.

Sheer and utter nonsense. Twisting words. I don't have the time for his garbage anymore. The only way to get rid of someone like that is to not acknowledge and engage with them.

Good night, ODC!

Fortunately, I won't have to read your response.

Agreed.  I don’t think people on this site expect everyone to agree with their opinions.  It is how certain people attack other people’s opinions while simultaneously presenting their own opinions as facts above reproach.  
 

I believe that considering other differing perspectives is helpful in that they either reinforce your own opinions or you learn something new and change your previous opinions.

The sheer volume of responses by ODC all over the place (like your example) and being told to f*** off multiple times led me to have to block him.

[Burnt Toast]

27 minutes ago, WildNotMild said:

learn something new

This is what I like about the discussions also. I’m probably never going to read an Austrian publication but that information was fun to learn about. 

[fikifuka]

I'll try to keep you guys updated as soon I get more or good information over there. 🤞

[NoJoSux]

MN needs more. It's that simple.

Can't run #97, #14, #32, #7 into the ground. 

The formula is no revelation-recipe. It's plain as day with each team that wins a Cup. You need depth to roll four lines, elite goaltending, and top notch coaching. Then you need to build up the confidence and chemistry with character. That comes from character and coaching. Why do the same players and coaches always find the spotlight??? 

Florida has had these things for the last two years and Vegas/Colorado the years before that. MN has none of those elements solidified. Average coach, average roster, good goaltending on top of ordinary character. The Wild have no Tkachuk although Boldy & Faber are beginning to show signs of real leadership. Kirill has top class talent and skill but you can't win the Cup with less than the whole package. Guerin gave Kulikov away and never signed Nosek. Florida added Sturm who Guerin let walk for Fred. Edmonton got big goals from Perry who turned his nose up at the Wild. GMBG pursued perennial loser Laine and never forget nepotistic nullifier #90, neck-beard NoJo.  

Look at Edmonton. Does the best player in the world make it happen? Does the confidence build on squirrely goaltending or Klingberg giveaways? Not even close. Do the Rangers go from ECF contenders to missing the playoffs and retooling because they have all the pieces or did they ride a wave like MN did early last season? It an illusion, not a known value. 

MN played NoJo and Merrill right into OT losses against Vegas with their average coach. MN blames Nyquist for a goal reversed when nobody else could score. MN rode Gus forty games into oblivion cause their offense dropped off the radar. Let's face it, they never have enough size or toughness to succeed at avoiding Hartmanesque suspensions or defending Spurgeon getting blasted in the corner. Anybody really, the Wild have been getting pushed around even when they had Reaves or Delauriers. 

Can't make Marco Rossi into Gary Roberts. Can't ask Brock Faber to play like Brock Lesnar. Don't expect NoJo to backcheck or block shots. It's a foolish idea to think Buium or Yurov are gonna step in and dominate the big, tough, talent-rich Central. How many rookies were in the lineup for FL in the playoffs? How bout for Edmonton or Vegas? The Wild are spinning their wheels currently. No amount of elite Swedes, hyped-up rookies, undersize skill guys, or hair-free coaches are gonna reinvent the Stanley Cup wheel if you ask me. 

[Sam]

22 minutes ago, NoJoSux said:

hair-free coaches

lol 😆 

[Enforceror]

7 minutes ago, Sam said:

lol 😆 

Yeah that caused an involuntary chuckle at an inopportune time for me. 

 

[1Brotherbill]

23 hours ago, SkolWild73 said:

I would say in a team sport like hockey, many players are needed to help win it, and Rossi will probably not be the main reason they would, but that doesn’t mean he would not be a valuable piece to the puzzle.

At what cost?  Over paying for someone like Marco is what got the Wild in Cap hell. 

[SkolWild73]

1 minute ago, 1Brotherbill said:

At what cost?  Over paying for someone like Marco is what got the Wild in Cap hell. 

 Well, since he doesn’t have a contract yet, I can’t say whether we have over payed  for him or not.

[Mateo3xm]

On 7/13/2025 at 8:01 PM, 1Brotherbill said:

Just to clarify.  Marco Rossi is not going to win Minnesota a Stanley Cup.  He can be on a team that wins the Cup but he isn't going to be the reason that Minnesota does.  So, the "Sign him" people need to step back and realize that he isn't as valuable as everyone thinks.  

The league said he isn't that valuable.  Being that nobody was willing to trade for him.  The RFA deal hasn't shown up yet which means nobody wants to pay the contract that Marco wants.  BG has said that he will match any deal that comes in which has pushed the RFA offer into the 7.02 million range which only a few teams can afford the picks for and even fewer have the money for.  

So, this all means Marco is going to play for Minnesota next season.  At a value that is going to be less than Matt Boldy and closer to 5 million a year.  

I believe the qualifying offer is only for one year.  Which probably means this goes on again next year, and probably the year after as well.  

If you really look at it he is a backup top 6 center.  Is he really worth more than Ek and Boldy?

It isn’t that he’s isn’t valuable, that’s a ridiculous statement. The reason is because he isn’t a prototypical center and that’s what teams want. It’s a gamble given that he’s only played two NHL seasons. So basically he’s not ideal size and he’s only played two seasons are the reason he doesn’t have heavy interest. Teams don’t want to take a big gamble on him. Yet through all the adversity he’s gone through and the hurdles he’s had to jump through, he’s shown that he’s extremely resilient and done very well for himself so far.

To say a player that lead the entire CHL his draft year in points, was a point per game in the AHL, was 6th in Calder trophy voting, had the second most goals by a rookie in Wild history and scored 60pts his second year in the NHL is not valuable, is delusional. 

I believe Marco Rossi is an outlier and he’s done an extremely good job showing that up to this point. I think Rossi is far more valuable to this team than any trade offer BG is going to get and that’s why he hasn’t been traded. 

[Mateo3xm]

On 7/12/2025 at 9:17 PM, IllicitFive said:

On the outs with teammates either socially or as part of the culture or both. Ever play a team sport where you just aren't a fam of a guy, he may be selfish, think he's above the team, or quits then blames people? That's how 

Where is your proof of this?? I’ve not heard anyone talk about it so you’re obviously talking out of your arse unless you can provide a source.

[Mateo3xm]

On 7/12/2025 at 10:14 AM, Will D. Ness said:

The Florida Panthers dismantled a presidents trophy team with one purpose in mind... to get bigger, tougher and meaner.  

Let's keep things in perspective here... they gambled it all... one of the ballsiest moves in all of sports IMO.  They got rid of their finesse game and brought in brutality... and now they have 2 SC.

If you want the Minnesota Wild to be more like the Panthers, why are people crying for Rossi?  If anything you should be bitching that we didn't draft Lundell.

That’s sounds good and everything but the fact of the matter is Rossi is far more valuable to the team than anything they are ever going to be offered for him. It makes far more sense to keep him than trade him because you aren’t going to get the same worth back in a trade. 
Johnathan Marchessult was a throw away in the Expansion draft because he was 5ft 9in but then went on to win the Conn Smyth trophy in 2023 with Vegas for playoffs MVP. If anyone is going to defy the odds and be an outlier in terms of succeeding despite his size it certainly looks to be Rossi. I don’t disagree that this team needs to be built more like Florida but you’re not going to get anyone back that plays like the guys on Florida. If BG gets rid of him just to get rid of him, he’s a moron. Building the type of team that Florida has should have been the goal for the last 20 yrs but only recently it’s been Guarin’s interest which is extremely head scratching.

[Asinine]

The Wild should think about drafting only mediocre players so they don't have problems paying them or trading them for a mediocre player.

[IllicitFive]

12 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

Where is your proof of this?? I’ve not heard anyone talk about it so you’re obviously talking out of your arse unless you can provide a source.

Oh boy coming in REAL HOT for clearly not following the thread. Take a breath I will summarize. An argument was made that Rossi has not been signed because he lost the locker room. I made a tongue in cheek comment that Kap must have lost it too since he isn't signed. Someone then posted to that reply "how does one lose the locker room". My reply to that is the piece you chose to cherry pick and and claim I am talking out of my ass. Context is important champ, I get there are a lot of comments, but if going to call someone out get facts straight. Now you are caught up on the actual thread of my conversations and the context revolving around the comment.

[raithis]

17 hours ago, NoJoSux said:

MN needs more. It's that simple.

Can't run #97, #14, #32, #7 into the ground. 

The formula is no revelation-recipe. It's plain as day with each team that wins a Cup. You need depth to roll four lines, elite goaltending, and top notch coaching. Then you need to build up the confidence and chemistry with character. That comes from character and coaching. Why do the same players and coaches always find the spotlight??? 

Florida has had these things for the last two years and Vegas/Colorado the years before that. MN has none of those elements solidified. Average coach, average roster, good goaltending on top of ordinary character. The Wild have no Tkachuk although Boldy & Faber are beginning to show signs of real leadership. Kirill has top class talent and skill but you can't win the Cup with less than the whole package. Guerin gave Kulikov away and never signed Nosek. Florida added Sturm who Guerin let walk for Fred. Edmonton got big goals from Perry who turned his nose up at the Wild. GMBG pursued perennial loser Laine and never forget nepotistic nullifier #90, neck-beard NoJo.  

Look at Edmonton. Does the best player in the world make it happen? Does the confidence build on squirrely goaltending or Klingberg giveaways? Not even close. Do the Rangers go from ECF contenders to missing the playoffs and retooling because they have all the pieces or did they ride a wave like MN did early last season? It an illusion, not a known value. 

MN played NoJo and Merrill right into OT losses against Vegas with their average coach. MN blames Nyquist for a goal reversed when nobody else could score. MN rode Gus forty games into oblivion cause their offense dropped off the radar. Let's face it, they never have enough size or toughness to succeed at avoiding Hartmanesque suspensions or defending Spurgeon getting blasted in the corner. Anybody really, the Wild have been getting pushed around even when they had Reaves or Delauriers. 

Can't make Marco Rossi into Gary Roberts. Can't ask Brock Faber to play like Brock Lesnar. Don't expect NoJo to backcheck or block shots. It's a foolish idea to think Buium or Yurov are gonna step in and dominate the big, tough, talent-rich Central. How many rookies were in the lineup for FL in the playoffs? How bout for Edmonton or Vegas? The Wild are spinning their wheels currently. No amount of elite Swedes, hyped-up rookies, undersize skill guys, or hair-free coaches are gonna reinvent the Stanley Cup wheel if you ask me. 

Yes, but teams like Florida didn't get there overnight.  They had a fairly decent team before they made the more recent moves to round out there roster.

Now, let's look where the Wild have been.

Cap penalties have finally come off.  While this helps a ton, one of the reasons Florida was able to pick up some of the players they did is because others teams could not re-sign some of them.  Yes, we now have cap space, but now, after years of the cap remaining mostly stagnant, so does the rest of the league.  Teams that may have been forced to trade a player or let them go in free agency were often able to keep them.

Because we didn't have the players coming up and the ones that were there weren't ready, the team had to look more towards free agency for players.  Well, with little cap space, the Wild weren't going to be able to be competitive for free agents.  And with trying to be competitive overall, it often meant keeping around players you knew vs upsetting team chemistry with unknowns - because they couldn't afford to roll the dice and be wrong.  As a result, they've mostly kept the same group together.

Yes, Florida and Edmonton didn't have a lot of rookies suiting up, but they have players they did develop years ago that they rely on and others that they developed and traded for others.  The Wild doesn't yet have the team that Florida had before they traded for Tkachuk.  They gave away a lot of 1sts in the Fletcher years for players that didn't really amount to much or did not give us the same impact for as long.  We also had some bad picks in that span so we don't have as many of the better skilled players that could have given us better depth or could have been trade pieces for the type of player the team needs.  Those players are now starting to arrive.  In a few years I expect some of those players to be traded out for a really good player (our own Tkachuk trade of sorts).  We just aren't there yet because we are still building the foundation.

The Wild are a good team that can be great if they play a solid team game.  Any time they start relying on one player too much, the lack of high-end skill really starts to show.  Any time a player isn't pulling their weight (or is injured and just can't), it really starts to show.

I'm hoping that Yurov, Buium, Jiricek, Ohgren, and Wallstedt all do well, but odds are that some will struggle or make some stupid plays.  I'm also hoping Tarasenko can mesh well with the team and turn the clock back a couple years.  If he can be counted on to even get 20 goals for us, that's huge.  If the rookies can collectively get 40 between them, that helps a lot too, because we'll finally have some scoring depth again.

Do I expect the Wild to win the Stanley Cup this next season?  No.  Do I think they are on the right path to winning one?  Absolutely.  It's still a work in progress and about 30% of the roster will likely change before that happens, but I think it can.

[1Brotherbill]

23 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

I believe Marco Rossi is an outlier and he’s done an extremely good job showing that up to this point. I think Rossi is far more valuable to this team than any trade offer BG is going to get and that’s why he hasn’t been traded. 

Rossi, is ok at best.  He can score. Stays healthy. He really isn't good on the draw.  Has a very difficult time inside against players a foot taller.  What the Wild don't see is that a 7 for 7 deal on Rossi will be very cheap after the 4th year of the deal.  It would be a gamble because like everyone knows and often say he is small and that is never going to change.  

But right now the 5 million deal is the best he is going to get and he should just sign it and play his best until he becomes a free agent in 2029. 

[Mateo3xm]

4 minutes ago, 1Brotherbill said:

Rossi, is ok at best.  He can score. Stays healthy. He really isn't good on the draw.  Has a very difficult time inside against players a foot taller.  What the Wild don't see is that a 7 for 7 deal on Rossi will be very cheap after the 4th year of the deal.  It would be a gamble because like everyone knows and often say he is small and that is never going to change.  

But right now the 5 million deal is the best he is going to get and he should just sign it and play his best until he becomes a free agent in 2029. 

Rossi isn’t bad at draw. His second yr he was 46.8%. He’s just young.
it took JEE four years to get higher than 46.8% on draws and he was at 47.1%.

I think Rossi deserves some where in the middle of 5-7mil. If he’s offered a bridge at 6mil I think that’s perfectly fair but 5x5 isn’t if Rossi has far more to show.

[raithis]

50 minutes ago, Mateo3xm said:

Rossi isn’t bad at draw. His second yr he was 46.8%. He’s just young.
it took JEE four years to get higher than 46.8% on draws and he was at 47.1%.

I think Rossi deserves some where in the middle of 5-7mil. If he’s offered a bridge at 6mil I think that’s perfectly fair but 5x5 isn’t if Rossi has far more to show.

I agree he's not all bad at face-offs, but I think they need a couple players who average over 50% to bring the team average to the middle.  Pulling less than half of draws puts the Wild on their heels too much and the defense doesn't seem to get set quickly enough when the face-off is in the defensive zone.

Part of me still thinks Rossi would be better suited as a wing in the NHL.  And while he always looks a little lost on the 2nd PP unit when he's playing a different position than center (like he's not quite sure where to be), I mostly think that's because the 1st unit gets the bulk of the PP time and all the players on that unit just don't have game chemistry because of it. 

So I'm sticking with the gut-feeling that Rossi would do better as a wing.  It's not that I doubt he can play center, but I think he would just do better as a wing.  I also think he kind of ran out of steam towards the end of the season from trying to stand his ground in the slot - another reason why it might be better to move him from center.

Of course, I'd love to see him prove me wrong.  He's an easy guy to root for and I hope he continues to have success.  I mean, for a kid who had struggles with myocarditis, Rossi has repeatedly shown he has a ton of heart.

I'm kind of in agreement with the bridge deal.  Give him a 1 or 2 year deal at around $5M and see how he does.  Yeah, it might cost the Wind more in the long run since he could drive his price higher, but I still see that as a win-win - Rossi gets a huge raise that is justifiable and the Wild delay committing to a player with some past health issues.  They are likely behind him, but after just getting rid of the cap penalties, I'd think it would be difficult for Guerin to jump into any long contract that he feels as if it might have a chance to hinder the team.  If Rossi truly believes it's behind him and that he has the skill and talent to continue to be a ~60 point or better player, then he has all the evidence he'd need to get paid after the bridge deal reaches it's end.

[terrydactyls]

I read the first two pages of comments and became bored with the infantile blathering.  So I went to the last page only to find that it was still going on.  The net result for me was that I learned absolutely nothing about the Rossi contract situation.  You guys are worse than the commenters on Twins Daily.  I don't live in Minnesota so I do not get any news about any Minnesota sports team unless they are playing against a Boston team (boo!!).  I was hoping to find a source of actual information but I guess I'll have to keep lookiing.

[Up North Guy]

9 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I read the first two pages of comments and became bored with the infantile blathering.  So I went to the last page only to find that it was still going on.  The net result for me was that I learned absolutely nothing about the Rossi contract situation.  You guys are worse than the commenters on Twins Daily.  I don't live in Minnesota so I do not get any news about any Minnesota sports team unless they are playing against a Boston team (boo!!).  I was hoping to find a source of actual information but I guess I'll have to keep lookiing.

It's the off season and there is virtually no news. That means all we can do is rehash everything a bazillion times.