Article: Can Marco Rossi Build On His Playoff Performance?

[Mateo3xm]

5 hours ago, Dean said:

The wild shouldn’t have devalued Rossi and traded him.  He is to small!! Ek , Rossi and Hartman can’t go up against Florida . It would be an ass kicking . Florida is the standard of where we need to get to an another undersized weak player isn’t going to do it . The wild told the nhl they think he’s too weak and small for playoffs and the rest of nhl took notice. No one wants a weak undersized 2c . Hence no offer sheets or trade. Yet the fans of a team that can’t win shit want an undersized 2c because they know what it takes to win nothing . 
   Honestly when are people Going to start looking at this team as to what  can it do in playoffs versus reg season stats. You have to beat other teams to win the cup. Little kids holding daddy’s hockey stick doesn’t win cups. This team is so undersized and weak it’s never going anywhere except for fist round exits after it barely squeaks into playoffs.  Oh but future is bright because some jack ass made a list. Someone should do a story on how those stupid lists actually translate to winning cups. They f ing don’t. They give hope to the hopeless fools that believe them 

You really don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

[Mateo3xm]

9 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

This data syncs better with my Rossi speed eye test.  Not a sloth, but not a burner either.  He may be quick, but not fast

You sure you’re using your good eye?

[mnfaninnc]

I'm with Pewter and notice the same thing, Rossi is not that fast. He can, however, be very quick. If he had elite edges and could be shiftier, I think that would make him look faster. If he had that ability to turn a defender the wrong way for half a step, he'd be real dangerous. So far, that is not in his arsenal. 

The question of this article is, however, can Rossi build upon his playoffs? I say who cares. I want him to build upon his 1st 3/4 of the season last year when he was on pace for the mid 70s in points. 

I also believe he was more injured than he let trainers know and gutted out the rest of the season and should get credit for that. I think his demotion was getting him bigger wingers through that series and hoping that his knee would finally heal. Anyone watching this team regularly could tell he wasn't the same player as before that block. But, his scoring slump started prior to the injury. 

I would not, if I were the GM, pay him more than $5m next season. On a 1 year deal, I'd go $3.5m, on a 2 year deal, I'd go $9m ($3.5m/5.5m). If he can come into camp heavier, stronger and show me elite edges and more compete, I would reward him when I could with a larger contract. But, he has a few things I need to see before he gets it, and those are all requirements, not doing some of the things I ask for. 

While I would trade Rossi for something I liked better, say, McTavish, or say Canada really pissed off Tkachuk and he wanted out, but I'd be very selective in who I traded him for. To date, this is how Guerin has treated the situation also. Rossi's agent is outside the ballpark on this one and time is on Guerin's side. I believe it's the agent here that is the roadblock, and maybe that's just his job.

To clean up a couple of statements, I believe only ELCs and 35+ players can get performance bonuses per the CBA. I don't think Rossi is eligible for any trade protection until he reaches UFA status. So, if I'm reading it right, if we signed him for 7 years, only the last 3 could have trade protection on them. Rossi may not want to take a lower deal and then get traded off. Really, he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. Some have suggested he play in the Swiss league, that would be career suicide and for a player of his stature, his career will be in the K. He's nowhere near Nylander class in talent. 

I will ask this question, though: Why is it imperative for the team to sign him now? What is the rush? He really doesn't need to be signed until training camp is about to start. The 2 sides aren't talking, big deal. Has Guerin taken his 5 x $5m offer off the table? I certainly haven't heard that. Perhaps Guerin just left it on the table with a call me when you're ready to sign this. I still think 2 x $4.5m is where we end up.

[DennisIN]

Rossi Interview (German)

Really interesting interview with Rossi published yesterday. 

I must say it does sound rather complicated. His answer to the question on whether he wants to return to St. Paul sounds more like he wants to be gone.

Feels undervalued but is also willing to sign short term, but not for a bargain.

Is frustrated with how his situation was handled, finding out about his demotion on the line chart without prior communication, not good people leadership if you ask me.

Worked on strength, speed and face-offs, weighs 196 lbs now. Does not feel like height is the problem especially with his strength development. His goals came from short distance, so he feels able to use his strength in front of the net.

Had an honest conversation with management after the season, sounds like it got heated (my interpretation).

 

[Will D. Ness]

2 hours ago, DennisIN said:

Worked on strength, speed and face-offs, weighs 196 lbs now. Does not feel like height is the problem especially with his strength development. His goals came from short distance, so he feels able to use his strength in front of the net.

He seems to be this off-season training beast in the mold of Arnold.  I love this about Rossi.

It's too bad his agent is a tool.  Rossi probably would have gotten paid a fair market contract last season and all of this "undervalued" nonsense wouldn't have been a distraction or a possible cause for Rossi to lose motivation in the playoffs.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

On 8/3/2025 at 7:18 PM, mnfaninnc said:

Rossi's agent is outside the ballpark

Rossi's agent is asking maybe a touch outside the going rate for a 2nd line center. We have comparable contracts from this season and he should be around 6.5-7 for a long term and 5.5 for a short term. Those are going rates and evolving hockey, Jfresh and every other model i can find all agree. 

3 hours ago, Will D. Ness said:

It's too bad his agent is a tool

This is equally on Guerin too. They both need to have some room to compromise and it sounds like neither have even suggested it. 

Rossi's interview in German really showed a lack of communication from the staff, nothing said before the game about the demotion and no reason given after. We've heard this before with T-bot vs Fleury in the playoffs. Same GM, different coach and same culture. If you are going to demote a guy who starting on the first line all season, and is one the reasons you made it to playoffs being second in scoring on the team, maybe you sit him down or at least have a conversation. 

It is stuff like this that sours a players relationship with our team. Not a good look for our FO or coach.  

[MrCheatachu]

7 hours ago, DennisIN said:

Rossi Interview (German)

Really interesting interview with Rossi published yesterday. 

I must say it does sound rather complicated. His answer to the question on whether he wants to return to St. Paul sounds more like he wants to be gone.

Feels undervalued but is also willing to sign short term, but not for a bargain.

Is frustrated with how his situation was handled, finding out about his demotion on the line chart without prior communication, not good people leadership if you ask me.

Worked on strength, speed and face-offs, weighs 196 lbs now. Does not feel like height is the problem especially with his strength development. His goals came from short distance, so he feels able to use his strength in front of the net.

Had an honest conversation with management after the season, sounds like it got heated (my interpretation).

 

Thanks for linking that article, I used google translate to read it, and I know (especially german) sometimes the context/words get lost a bit.  I did find a couple interesting notes:

Quote

Rossi: Bruises, contusions, or cracked ribs—you always have something. I still try to play every game. Unless it's really impossible, then you're not stupid and play anyway. Luckily, I haven't had a situation where I actually had to sit out a game.

I missed when Rossi had a cracked rib last season?  That might be a 'lost in translation' moment, but that would be definitely news to me if he managed to play all 82 with a cracked rib somewhere in there.

Quote

LAOLA1: When was it originally planned for you to travel back to Minnesota?

Rossi: Actually, I was planning to fly over at the end of August. But of course, I won't go over until I know when I'm signing. I'll probably fly in early to mid-September.

...interesting tidbit there.  He missed his sisters wedding to train over here, and now he's sticking in Austria until he's got a piece of paper to sign.

[DennisIN]

49 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

I missed when Rossi had a cracked rib last season?  That might be a 'lost in translation' moment, but that would be definitely news to me if he managed to play all 82 with a cracked rib somewhere in there.

I am from Germany and can read between the lines a little bit.

He is a bit vague about that. Only saying that there is always something, for example bruises, broken ribs and stuff like that ...

Did not say that he actually had a broken rib. Maybe he was referring to team mates as well. I think if he had a broken rib he would actually say it in a more certain way.

[Willy the poor boy]

2 hours ago, MrCheatachu said:

Thanks for linking that article, I used google translate to read it, and I know (especially german) sometimes the context/words get lost a bit.  I did find a couple interesting notes:

I missed when Rossi had a cracked rib last season?  That might be a 'lost in translation' moment, but that would be definitely news to me if he managed to play all 82 with a cracked rib somewhere in there.

...interesting tidbit there.  He missed his sisters wedding to train over here, and now he's sticking in Austria until he's got a piece of paper to sign.

If you're playing with a broken rib, you certainly don't want that getting out. I don't believe we knew Faber was playing with a broken rib until after the season .

[MrCheatachu]

15 hours ago, Willy the poor boy said:

If you're playing with a broken rib, you certainly don't want that getting out. I don't believe we knew Faber was playing with a broken rib until after the season .

Agreed, but typically we get the list of all the injuries guys were dealing with after the season ends.  The laundry list of everything that was wrong with Moose two seasons ago, or even FreddyG gave cover for their fall off in play during the season.

I was curious if I should further be reading between the lines that the team wasn't disclosing an injury after the season as further evidence they're building a perception around the guy...

16 hours ago, DennisIN said:

I am from Germany and can read between the lines a little bit.

He is a bit vague about that. Only saying that there is always something, for example bruises, broken ribs and stuff like that ...

Did not say that he actually had a broken rib. Maybe he was referring to team mates as well. I think if he had a broken rib he would actually say it in a more certain way.

Thank you.  I know google translate isnt perfect and, in my experience of working with germans, it's easy for an american to confuse an off-handed comment with something pointed and intentional.

[mnfaninnc]

On 8/5/2025 at 3:19 PM, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

Rossi's agent is asking maybe a touch outside the going rate for a 2nd line center. We have comparable contracts from this season and he should be around 6.5-7 for a long term and 5.5 for a short term. Those are going rates and evolving hockey, Jfresh and every other model i can find all agree. 

Here's the thing that is missing from many people on here. Nobody in the front office cares about comparable contracts at this time, it's meaningless. Comparable contracts come up with arbitration and signing an RFA to an extension trying to prevent arbitration. Rossi does not have arbitration rights so there is absolutely no need, this year, to pay him with comparables. It may seem unfair, but this is the way the CBA is written and just re-ratified for 4 more years. 

There is no fairness doctrine in the CBA. It's based upon time served in the N. Because Rossi had lost so much strength with his illness, he was not able to compete in the 1st year of his ELC and had to be sent down to Iowa. That meant he lost out on time served and it directly affects his next contract, likely a low bridge deal. Because of Rossi's illness, of no fault of his own, the team is not obligated to pay for the results of that. 

The thing that is missing from Rossi's career is that 3rd year of production. This is why he hasn't qualified for looking at comparables. This is why there is no obligation of the team to pay him like other players his age or his production. There simply isn't enough data to back up the risk. Rossi shouldn't be paid in the $6.5-7m category, nor should his bridge deal be above $5m. In fact, anything over his QO he should be showing gratitude for. 

This all changes next season.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

59 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The thing that is missing from Rossi's career is that 3rd year of production. This is why he hasn't qualified for looking at comparables.

Neither does Stankoven or Coronato. They both have a season and a half in the league and are under team control. They are perfect comparables, except they haven't put up that 60 point mark like Rossi has. 

A GM needs to be a good people manager too. Had Hynes or Guerin sat Rossi down before demoting him to the 4th line, he would likely still have that trust in the organization. They didn't offer him that courtesy and now he doesn't trust that if he takes the pay of a third liner, they aren't going to bury him on the forth line in obscurity. Guerin can stonewall him and force him into a contract that is under his value, sure. I can guarantee that sort of bull headed negotiation will come back to bite him in the ass when Rossi is a UFA. It also casts quite a shadow for the rest of our young guys coming up, knowing they won't be paid hat they are worth as long as they are under team control. 

I see Guerin's angle and hear where you are coming from, I just wholeheartedly disagree that it is the right move for the future of the team. Especially with a whole swath of ELC's playing this year. Guerin gets the short term win, but loses in long term and perception of the kind of GM he is. There also was some indication of a heated conversation between Rossi and Guerin after the season. We know how Billy responds to criticism and I think it might give us a clue as to why they have no time for comparables. 

The fact that Kap had to reach out to a washed up Tarasenko to get him to agree to waive his no move should speak volumes to what attraction we have for free agents. I have a feeling that if this continues we will have a few more McBain's and Spacek's in the coming years. Young guys that want out before playing even a minute with our NHL club. Not a great look for the future of the franchise when this is how we treat our second best center prospect ever.

[Will D. Ness]

44 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

Not a great look for the future of the franchise when this is how we treat our second best center prospect ever.

Rossi basically dropped off a cliff last season both in production and attitude.  He was noticeably playing with less intensity and motivation on both ends of the ice.

This isn't a one off thing with Rossi either.  He has been a roller coaster. 

If Rossi had Stankoven's attitude, I doubt we would be having this conversation.

[SkolWild73]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

The thing that is missing from Rossi's career is that 3rd year of production. This is why he hasn't qualified for looking at comparables. This is why there is no obligation of the team to pay him like other players his age or his production. There simply isn't enough data to back up the risk. Rossi shouldn't be paid in the $6.5-7m category, nor should his bridge deal be above $5m. In fact, anything over his QO he should be showing gratitude for. 

I am trying to figure out how not having the third year of production means anything for what Rossi should get in a contract.  Here are Rossi's stats for his last two years.

164 games played, 45 G, 55A, 100 points

Below are other players CAREER stats when they signed their contracts, without arbitration rights.

Matthew Coronato: 112 GP, 27G, 29A, 56 points.  Contract: 7 years, $6.5M AAV

Logan Stankoven: 102 GP, 20G, 32A, 52 points.  Contact: 8 years, $6M AAV

Jackson Blake: 81GP, 17G, 17A, 34 points.  Contract: 8 years, $5.11M AAV

William Ecklund: 174GP, 35G, 75A, 110 points.  Contract: 3 years, $5.6M AAV

The first three, Rossi has way more games played and better production and is very similar to Ecklund.  Those teams were under no obligation to give their players a fair offer either, but they did.

As far as the qualifying offer, Rossi needed to sign that by July 15th, otherwise it expires.  Also, QOs are usually for 1 year and in Rossi's case, can be no more than $1M AAV.  You seriously think he should be happy for anything more than that?  Come on.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

54 minutes ago, Will D. Ness said:

Rossi basically dropped off a cliff last season both in production and attitude.  He was noticeably playing with less intensity and motivation on both ends of the ice.

This is what the Rossi defender's are forgetting.  Rossi was a complete ghost the final 20 games of last season.  But P-Tinkles, he was hurt from the shot to the knee in game #60.  Pro's heal and then step up in post-season (especially).  At end of season Rossi is on record saying he was not playing hurt and didn't need any post season surgery.  So far bill has not f'd up the Rossi situation.

But P-Stink, what about Rossi's feelings?  If we need to be worried about a pro hockey players feelings we should trade him to BOS for some old mouthguards.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

49 minutes ago, Will D. Ness said:

Rossi basically dropped off a cliff last season both in production and attitude.  He was noticeably playing with less intensity and motivation on both ends of the ice.

This isn't a one off thing with Rossi either.  He has been a roller coaster. 

If Rossi had Stankoven's attitude, I doubt we would be having this conversation.

That doesn't make his stat lines any worse though. Boldy was streaky through his ELC and still got a bag. Fiala was streaky and still got a bag. Lots of young players have issues with consistency. Doesn't mean you don't pay them for what they have done.

I think Rossi has a great attitude. Dude is beefing up in the offseason again and is almost up to 200lbs. He didn't say boo about being demoted to the forth line in PS until after all was done and he had three points playing like 11 mins a night. 

I think there was some injuries that he wasn't speaking up about in that late season, because you're right, he didn't look like himself.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

1 minute ago, Pewterschmidt said:

At end of season Rossi is on record saying he was not playing hurt and didn't need any post season surgery.  So far bill has not f'd up the Rossi situation.

He did not say he was not playing hurt, he said that nothing required surgery. Two very different things.

[TheGoosesAreLooses]

9 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

He did not say he was not playing hurt, he said that nothing required surgery. Two very different things.

In fact, I went back and watched the postseason presser he put on and he said he was banged up and dealing with a couple things but wanted to play unless the doctors told him he couldn't. Then they asked him directly if he needed surgery and he said no, just rest healing.

[Mateo3xm]

1 hour ago, Will D. Ness said:

Rossi basically dropped off a cliff last season both in production and attitude.  He was noticeably playing with less intensity and motivation on both ends of the ice.

This isn't a one off thing with Rossi either.  He has been a roller coaster. 

If Rossi had Stankoven's attitude, I doubt we would be having this conversation.

He was playing in his SECOND nhl season and was 2nd on the team in points…

think about that..

second year players are suppose to have a lot of up and downs and yet he still had the 2nd most points on the team. Who cares if he dropped off at the end somewhat, that’s absolutely expected from a 2nd yr player who was most likely battling some injuries.

I don’t get why people are trying to continually bring this point up. 

[SkolWild73]

1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

second year players are suppose to have a lot of up and downs and yet he still had the 2nd most points on the team. Who cares if he dropped off at the end somewhat, that’s absolutely expected from a 2nd yr player who was most likely battling some injuries.

This exactly.

I can't imagine what the conversations would be about Faber had we not signed him before last year and were waiting to do it now.  He had an even worse stretch than Rossi did and besides a few who think we overpaid, I don't hear much about him.

To put it in perspective, Rossi had a bad March where he had 1 goal, 3 assists and was a -8 in 15 games.  In his other 67 games he had 23 goals, 33 assists and was plus 11. From January through March, Faber had 2 goals and 2 assists and was a -14 in 34 games.  The other 44 games he had 8 goals, 17 assists and was a plus 12.

 

[Will D. Ness]

1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

Who cares if he dropped off at the end somewhat

The entire NHL?

His market value has been pretty much defined in the past few months.  BG wanted to trade this 60 point center and nobody was willing to pony up anything good.  I think we all (including me) developed rose colored eyeballs about Rossi and his little comeback and success story, but the bottom line disagrees with us.  

Rossi absolutely cannot drop off like he did.  He doesn't have Boldy's talent or size.  He needs to work twice as hard to win pucks and he has to take punishment.

He stopped doing that.  I don't know why.