Article: Where Is the Marco Rossi Offer Sheet?

[Quebec1648]

8 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I see the numbers here, but what makes you think that Guerin will move off of his $5m figure to $6.25m when Rossi has no leverage? I could see Rossi coming into camp larger and with a chip on his shoulder, but if things are constant like the season ended, it seems to me that the agent comes off further than the GM (meaning more like 4 x $5.5m). 

I do believe that if he comes in bulked up, with a chip on his shoulder and ready to go, Guerin will pay, but it depends on this. 

Rossi has leverage, but it's rather risky. If Rossi sits out and refuses to accept Guerin's offer, Guerin gets nothing and the Wild likely miss the playoffs. Rossi could go to Europe for a year, and Guerin would be left holding the proverbial empty bag. The only way Rossi gets out of Minnesota, is by refusing to sign a contract. Guerin won't like it, but he just might agree to a trade if the alternative is Rossi not playing at all.

[1Brotherbill]

10 hours ago, MrCheatachu said:

Younger and cheaper, then immediately propose a trade that sends a 35 year old Spurgeon with 2 years left in his contract to them for a 33 year old Breadman who's expiring this year?

New York gains 4 million on the deal and as you say two years from now they can walk away with 7.5 million more.  They get a body for two years, a solid defenseman who can teach the younger players.  At the tend of the day they get something for Panarin that is of some value instead of him walking away at the end of the year for nothing. 

[HHF18]

On 8/19/2025 at 10:36 PM, MrCheatachu said:

What CBA are you following that has option years?  You realize these guys play in the NHL right?

A player option gives the player the right to extend their contract for an additional year, often at a predetermined salary. This key element in contract negotiations and can significantly impact both the player's future earnings and the team's salary cap situation. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Player Option:
A player option is a clause in a contract that allows the player, rather than the team, to decide whether to continue playing under the contract for an additional year. 

[0 Stanley Cups]

13 hours ago, Quebec1648 said:

Rossi has leverage, but it's rather risky. If Rossi sits out and refuses to accept Guerin's offer, Guerin gets nothing and the Wild likely miss the playoffs. Rossi could go to Europe for a year, and Guerin would be left holding the proverbial empty bag. The only way Rossi gets out of Minnesota, is by refusing to sign a contract. Guerin won't like it, but he just might agree to a trade if the alternative is Rossi not playing at all.

I agree, Rossi does have some leverage, without him who do the Wild have at center: Ek, Hartman, Yurov, and Sturm, and then who if there's an injury, nobody down in Iowa is ready.  BG can't get a decent return in a trade for a 9th overall pick, because like BG other teams don't covet his size, however, how does BG replace his 60 points, he can't.

One similar situation was when Nashville re-signed Saros, Askarov wanted playing time and wanted out, yet he was still under ELC and team control and was able to be moved.  Or the Rutger McGroarty situation.  Point is that teams don't just get to bully young players and they have no other options, that would make the team look bad and their draft picks would not sign ELC wait the extra 2 years and sign with whoever they want.  If Rossi's camp comes out publicly and says they want a trade out of Minnesota, then the bridge is burnt and BG will get an even lesser return.

Rossi will sign just before camp, but only 1-2 year.  BG better be careful, if the Wild don't make playoffs this year the pitchforks will be out!

[SkolWild73]

1 hour ago, HHF18 said:

A player option gives the player the right to extend their contract for an additional year, often at a predetermined salary. This key element in contract negotiations and can significantly impact both the player's future earnings and the team's salary cap situation. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Player Option:
A player option is a clause in a contract that allows the player, rather than the team, to decide whether to continue playing under the contract for an additional year. 

That is what a player option is, but it is not part of the NHL.

[mnfaninnc]

16 hours ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

I don't disagree with anyone who makes this statement. But, hypothetically, Rossi holds out, doesn't show up for camp, and doesn't play this season. Who do the Wild have waiting in the wings to replace his production? Who's left out there for RFA's, UFA's, or potential trades that can replace his production? Are the Wild a better team and will they win more games without Rossi in the lineup? I don't think so and that is the leverage that Rossi has.

This is the leverage that could easily backfire, and one I wouldn't consider leverage. Let's just say that Rossi doesn't show up to camp. Then what? Yurov, especially, benefits from this as he is the likely heir to the 2nd C spot. Hartzy also benefits from this because he can fill it right away while Yurov acclimates. 

When you give up your position challenging someone to fill it, that's what happens, someone does fill it. Sitting out a year does not help Rossi's cause. He does not get arbitration rights, he does not get QO'd for more, he does not have a case that he was underpaid, and he will have to deal with the ramifications of abandoning his teammates. Plus, his agent gets nothing.

Nylander did it, but was in a different talent class than Rossi is at this point in time. Some don't believe it, but this is a self implosion of a career. No other GM will trust Rossi, and most won't touch him. If you think that Guerin has been unfair to the player, what do you think he will do when the player has no value. It will essentially be "welcome back to the league" when he's 27. 

Now, that said, I think Guerin wants to negotiate face to face with him and see what his offseason training has looked like. I don't believe this is a broken relationship, I believe there are some specific things Guerin wants to see. Has Rossi shored up those weaknesses? That's what we'll learn about just before training camp. My suspicion is that he will come in looking quite different, and Guerin will come off his number. 

[Scalptrash]

33 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

BG better be careful, if the Wild don't make playoffs this year the pitchforks will be out!

I think it's second round or sayonara. No more shackles, no excuses, every team has injuries. He either knows what he's doing or he doesn't, this is the year we find out.

[MrCheatachu]

2 hours ago, HHF18 said:

A player option gives the player the right to extend their contract for an additional year, often at a predetermined salary. This key element in contract negotiations and can significantly impact both the player's future earnings and the team's salary cap situation. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Player Option:
A player option is a clause in a contract that allows the player, rather than the team, to decide whether to continue playing under the contract for an additional year. 

NHL hasnt had player options since the 2005 CBA.

Maybe you're getting confused with arbitration (which Rossi isnt eligible for?) where the arbitrator decides the salary, and then the side that didn't elect to arbitration chooses the term (1 vs. 2 year in length)?

[mnfaninnc]

14 hours ago, Quebec1648 said:

Rossi has leverage, but it's rather risky. If Rossi sits out and refuses to accept Guerin's offer, Guerin gets nothing and the Wild likely miss the playoffs. Rossi could go to Europe for a year, and Guerin would be left holding the proverbial empty bag. The only way Rossi gets out of Minnesota, is by refusing to sign a contract. Guerin won't like it, but he just might agree to a trade if the alternative is Rossi not playing at all.

So, Rossi sits out a year from the NHL and plays in Europe where salaries are about 10% of the N, kind of like the A. Then what? Rossi is Wild property until he's 27. He doesn't get to sit out a year and he's free, we go through the same thing next season where he has, again, next to no leverage, no arb rights, and his value will have diminished in the eyes of every GM in the league. Sure, he doesn't play and the GM is left holding the bag. 

However, what if the Wild do make the playoffs, the spot he gave up was filled adequately by a combination of Hartman and Yurov, and his value has tanked. Next contract is most likely whatever QO number qualifies him. There will be no negotiation, he can play for that number, try to re-establish himself, and have to pay a locker room price of abandonment from his teammates. In essence, he won a battle but totally lost the war. 

Wouldn't it be better for him to go out and bet on himself, take a lower number which would still be far higher than anything in Europe or the K and put up numbers that justify he is worth $X. In the long run, he makes more money.

[mnfaninnc]

9 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

Maybe you're getting confused with arbitration (which Rossi isnt eligible for?) where the arbitrator decides the salary, and then the side that didn't elect to arbitration chooses the term (1 vs. 2 year in length)?

I thought the team had to choose 1 or 2 years before the arbitration decision. And, the team and player can still be negotiating until the decision comes down.

Personally, I think he's getting confused with MLB where this is a common contract negotiation tool.

Edited Thursday at 02:31 PM by mnfaninnc

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Lo and behold, Russo is now saying "there has been significant progress toward a potential Marco Rossi signing by the MNWild."

I imagine there are some people out there surprised by this?

[MrCheatachu]

3 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I thought the team had to choose 1 or 2 years before the arbitration decision. And, the team and player can still be negotiating until the decision comes down.

It's been a while since I really dug into the process (I read up on it while I thought it was a path which we could retain Fiala...)

But it appears that if the player elects arbitration, the team selects 1 vs. 2 years unless the player is 1 year from UFA.  Also, if the arbitrator awards >$4.85M contract, the team can walk away from the contract and the player immediately becomes an UFA.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/what-can-happen-before-and-after-nhl-arbitration-hearings

Quote

After The Hearing

The arbitrator must issue and email the decision to the parties within 48 hours of the end of the hearing.

 

The contract must be either one or two years long. In a player-elected salary arbitration, the team elects the length, and in a club-elected arbitration, the player chooses the term. If the player is one year away from unrestricted free agency, however, then the award can only be for one season.

The arbitrator will establish the term, salary, minor-league salary if they decide to include one and the reasons for the decision.

 

In a player-elected arbitration, if the awarded average annual value is at least $4.85 million, the team can walk away from one year of the contract. If the club walks away from a one-year contract, the player becomes a UFA. On an awarded two-year deal, the team can opt for a one-year contract instead, and the player would be a UFA once it ends. The squad only has 48 hours to notify the parties of that decision.

 

[raithis]

2 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Lo and behold, Russo is now saying "there has been significant progress toward a potential Marco Rossi signing by the MNWild."

I imagine there are some people out there surprised by this?

At this point, a phone call would be significant progress.

[ArizonaWildFan]

3 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Yurov, especially, benefits from this as he is the likely heir to the 2nd C spot. Hartzy also benefits from this because he can fill it right away while Yurov acclimates.

Yurov is a question mark and unlikely to put up 60+ points. Both he and Hartman could have increased roles without Rossi, but who do you backfill their existing roles with? Both Yurov and definitely Hartman are already expected to be every game players, you have to fill their spots, too.

The bottom line is that the Wild are not a better team without Rossi. If GMBG is fine with rolling out a lesser team than last season and the fan base is fine with that then wash, rinse, spin... here we go again... struggle to make the playoffs and another first round exit at best.

Rossi as a 30 year old in the 2031-2032 season making $7M AAV sounds like a steal right now.

[mnfaninnc]

18 hours ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

Rossi as a 30 year old in the 2031-2032 season making $7M AAV sounds like a steal right now.

Things can change over time. Injuries and a lack of trying to get better all play in. There are many examples of athletes getting paid and then taking it easy, and it is especially true with younger players.

I'm not saying that Rossi is like this. But I am saying that Rossi probably had more he needed to shore up than Boldy and Faber. I have not watched the Wild live in an arena, but I would suspect that away from the camera, there are some things that we don't see and Guerin may not like. Whether it's style or instinct, there is something there. 

 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'm not saying that Rossi is like this. But I am saying that Rossi probably had more he needed to shore up than Boldy and Faber. I have not watched the Wild live in an arena, but I would suspect that away from the camera, there are some things that we don't see and Guerin may not like. Whether it's style or instinct, there is something there. 

Boldy has driven the scoring for a line. He's not nearly as dependent upon his linemates for offense creation. Rossi might get there, but he reached 60 points because he was playing with Kaprizov for some extended time.

[HHF18]

On 8/19/2025 at 8:48 PM, HHF18 said:

Rossi signs a 3Y 5M contract with the Wild. Good deal for both sides.

Bingo 😉

[HHF18]

On 8/19/2025 at 10:36 PM, MrCheatachu said:

What CBA are you following that has option years?  You realize these guys play in the NHL right?

That´s exactly what i meant.

"The Minnesota Wild have re-signed forward Marco Rossi to a three-year, $15 million bridge contract, carrying a $5 million average annual value and a projected $6 million qualifying offer heading into unrestricted free agency. "

[mnfaninnc]

18 hours ago, HHF18 said:

"The Minnesota Wild have re-signed forward Marco Rossi to a three-year, $15 million bridge contract, carrying a $5 million average annual value and a projected $6 million qualifying offer heading into unrestricted free agency. "

HHF18, I'm trying to understand your point, but am not getting your terminology. Are you considering RFA years as options? And QOing a guy is like fulfilling that option?

It's not, exactly, how it works but I can see the similarity in it. So, QOing just means that the team has retained the player. The player can, if eligible, seek arbitration or an offersheet from another team, but the QO number is typically not the contract number. In this case, Rossi will have 1 more RFA year left, and the QO is $6m, but he will likely sign an extension for quite a bit more and more years if everything keeps progressing as planned. If the Wild don't QO him at that price (which I think is actually $6.6m), then he walks free into UFA status. 

In most contracts, an option is put out for a set price, but this doesn't happen in the NHL. There may be some handshake deals that have an option. For instance, I believe Goligoski had one. Hartsy, and Foligno likely had them too. But none of it is official and had a new GM come in during that time, all handshake deals are gone. 

 

[HHF18]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

HHF18, I'm trying to understand your point, but am not getting your terminology. Are you considering RFA years as options? And QOing a guy is like fulfilling that option?

It's not, exactly, how it works but I can see the similarity in it. So, QOing just means that the team has retained the player. The player can, if eligible, seek arbitration or an offersheet from another team, but the QO number is typically not the contract number. In this case, Rossi will have 1 more RFA year left, and the QO is $6m, but he will likely sign an extension for quite a bit more and more years if everything keeps progressing as planned. If the Wild don't QO him at that price (which I think is actually $6.6m), then he walks free into UFA status. 

In most contracts, an option is put out for a set price, but this doesn't happen in the NHL. There may be some handshake deals that have an option. For instance, I believe Goligoski had one. Hartsy, and Foligno likely had them too. But none of it is official and had a new GM come in during that time, all handshake deals are gone. 

 

Yes, I expressed myself incorrectly. I meant what you wrote in the second paragraph.
For me, the QO "feels" like the option/possibility for Marco - to get on an easier way to UFA, if he wants...