Article: Will Marco Rossi Sit Out of Wild Training Camp?

[Quebec1648]

Bill Guerin has shown multiple times, that he does not value Rossi as a top 6 forward. Guerin may say some pr bs about liking Rossi and wanting him as part of the team, but I think it's false. Guerin gives me the impression, that he sees Rossi as nothing more than a 4th line guy. 

Rossi has leverage if he holds out or goes to Europe for a year. If he doesn't sign, then the Wild won't be playoff contenders. If he goes to Europe, then Guerin is forced to sign a replacement while getting nothing for Rossi.

If I were in Rossi's position, I would want out of here, and I would force a trade. I would tell Guerin that you can trade me to another club and take whatever draft pick or player they offer, or I will simply sign with the Finnish league and you will lose a key player for nothing. 

The Wild would hold Rossi's rights until age 27, but would they actually keep the cap space open for such a contract? If Rossi goes to Europe, he can play there for a year, and then come back. When he comes back, other teams can extend an offer sheet and potentially get Rossi if Guerin doesn't have cap space.

[IrritatedFan76]

Guh. Go ahead and sit. Anything a nickel over his current rate would be highway robbery. He’s asking for Boldy money? Great so we can have two, stone-handed, one-game-in-six performers making $7M//year for third line production. You’re right, let’s start a letter writing campaign to the GM and with any luck he’ll clot the payroll with PMB and Koivu sized contracts: Marquee money for medium talent.  Gross.

Edited Monday at 02:30 PM by IrritatedFan76

[Citizen Strife]

I would love third liners getting the team 60 pt production if you ask me.  The Wild are lucky to get 30-40 half the time.

Edited Monday at 02:47 PM by Citizen Strife

[mnfaninnc]

On 8/16/2025 at 1:40 PM, SkolWild73 said:

I just don't see any comparable players to Rossi, in all aspects of their game, that get a contract for less than $5M.

I've said all along that Lundell's contract is a comparable.

[mnfaninnc]

On 8/17/2025 at 5:35 AM, goenzoy said:

The exact amount is totally irrelevant .

If the exact amount is irrelevant, then why hasn't he signed a deal? 

It could very well be that he's just put it off until he's back in town. Or, it could be that his agent does think the exact amount is relevant. Or, perhaps even Rossi thinks the exact amount is relevant. 

[SkolWild73]

12 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I've said all along that Lundell's contract is a comparable.

Well, that was signed before the cap increase, so at 5.68% of this years cap, it would be about $5.5m AAV.

[FredJohnson]

44 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Well, that was signed before the cap increase, so at 5.68% of this years cap, it would be about $5.5m AAV.

[goenzoy]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

then why hasn't he signed a deal

It needs TWO for a tango 

Both long term deals don't have any future (5x5 and 7x7) 

And the time for bridgedeals has not come.

But I meant it more from depthchart point of view 

1C 46 games Eriksson Ek

2C 0 games Yurov

3C 82 games Rossi etc.

If Rossi is missing it will be difficult to fill the Center position

And Kaprisov signing is even complicating  things

 

[HHF18]

3Y 5M + Option 😏 

[HHF18]

On 8/15/2025 at 4:14 PM, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Are you suggesting that hockey players are exempt from tax in Switzerland?

The top tax rate there is not lower than the US, it's actually higher.

Switzerland (CH)

39.7%

But contracts in switzerland aren't work that way:
If a player signs for 1.000.000 a year - he gets that number. these numbers are always after tax. + they get a apartment + car + full health insurance.

That´s why Michael Raffl close Lausanne over Dallas. Lausanne offered him 700.000 (after tax) + car, etc... Dallas offered him 2Y 1.200.000. So what was the better deal? 😉 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

51 minutes ago, HHF18 said:

But contracts in switzerland aren't work that way:
If a player signs for 1.000.000 a year - he gets that number. these numbers are always after tax. + they get a apartment + car + full health insurance.

If that's true, that sounds like a better way to do it than what the NHL has in place. If true, it would make things more comparable in terms of money Rossi could receive, I'm just not familiar with sports contracts outside of the North American leagues.

[Dango]

1 hour ago, HHF18 said:

But contracts in switzerland aren't work that way:
If a player signs for 1.000.000 a year - he gets that number. these numbers are always after tax. + they get a apartment + car + full health insurance.

That´s why Michael Raffl close Lausanne over Dallas. Lausanne offered him 700.000 (after tax) + car, etc... Dallas offered him 2Y 1.200.000. So what was the better deal? 😉 

Can you reject the apartment and healthcare and get the value of them in salary instead or you have no choice ? 

[mnfaninnc]

On 8/18/2025 at 11:27 AM, SkolWild73 said:

Well, that was signed before the cap increase, so at 5.68% of this years cap, it would be about $5.5m AAV.

I could live with 5 x $5.5m. That sounds like a real good deal for the club. But if the term is 2 years, it will be less.

[mnfaninnc]

On 8/18/2025 at 1:09 PM, goenzoy said:

And Kaprisov signing is even complicating  things

How does this complicate things? The 2 aren't really related. 

I still would move Rossi up to 2C in your depth chart. I have a suspicion that Rossi is coming into camp with a lot more beef and a chip on his shoulder, both things Guerin wants.

I could see if that happens, and those boxes are checked, that Guerin moves off his hard stance and offers more on a longterm deal. Essentially, another big offseason for Rossi, and he caught the carrot. 

 

[HHF18]

On 8/19/2025 at 10:41 PM, Dango said:

Can you reject the apartment and healthcare and get the value of them in salary instead or you have no choice ? 

No - that things are just "normal" parts of contracts in europe.
You will only receive a work permit if your employer (club) registers you with the tax office and social security. Therefore, anyone who earns money in Europe (whether employed or self-employed) is ALWAYS automatically insured. The money is deducted directly from your paycheck before it is transferred to the player/worker's account.

They only negotiates things like "how big is the apartment" (cause if you have kids and wife - you need a bigger one). Cars are always sponsor contracts between the club and a car brand. 

For example Ambri Piotta. They have a deal with SKODA. So every player gets a new skoda at the beginning of the season. Some players get a SUV, others a Kombi or a smaller one...