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


    Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
    Tom Schreier

    There’s an alternate universe where people called South Florida’s hockey team the “Block Busters.” 

    The Florida Panthers’ founding owner, Wayne Huizenga, wanted to name them after his video rental chain. However, aside from their early success, the Panthers mostly languished at the bottom of the league. For years, it felt like Huizenga should have named them after his other companies. AutoNation because they were made up of spare parts, or Waste Management because they were mostly garbage.

    However, the Panthers started to transform from prey to predators during the quarantine season. They qualified for the bubble playoffs in 2019-20, marking only their fourth playoff appearance since reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996. Five seasons later, they’re back-to-back champions.

    Nobody was talking about sunshine and tax breaks when Brad Boyes was Florida’s leading scorer in 2013-14. However, unlike many of the NHL’s best teams, the Panthers aren’t homegrown. They picked Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett off the dysfunctional Calgary Flames. Florida also grabbed its leading scorer, Sam Reinhart, from the Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2010-11.

    Florida is the kind of team that would capitalize on Minnesota’s longstanding mismanagement of Marco Rossi

    The Rossi saga becomes increasingly perplexing the longer Minnesota drags it out. The Wild drafted a nearly NHL-ready player at a position of need. During the quarantine, he suffered from a COVID-related heart condition but returned to playing condition in 2021.

    Then things got weird.

    In 2021-22, Rossi had 53 points in 63 AHL games but only played two games with the Wild. A year later, he started the season in St. Paul but only had one point in his first 19 games. The Wild sent him down to Iowa and never recalled him, even though he had 51 points in 53 AHL games.

    Rossi has produced 100 points in the past two years and played 82 games in each season. He centered the first line when Joel Eriksson Ek was out and had two goals and an assist in the playoffs this year. Still, the Wild haven’t committed to Rossi long-term. A team that needs center depth is turning him into the next Matt Dumba, a skilled player perpetually on the trade block.

    Bill Guerin was a 6-foot-2, 22o lbs. power forward who played well into his 30s. That’s likely why he tends to prefer large, experienced players; Rossi is a 5-foot-9, 180 lbs., 23-year-old center. The Wild also has team control over Rossi because he’s a restricted free agent. Perhaps there’s tension between Guerin and Rossi’s camp, who can’t be happy with how they’ve managed him, and it’s bled into their negotiations.

    Regardless, Rossi fits a need for the Wild, and they’ve treated the former ninth-overall pick like a player they took a late-round flyer on. 

    Danila Yurov is one of Minnesota’s first-round selections in 2022 and is coming over from Russia next year. Even if Yurov takes over the No. 2 center spot next year, he’ll likely have an adjustment period. Still, if Yurov takes over the second-line center spot, Rossi is an ideal third center. He can play in the top 6 if Eriksson Ek or Yurov get hurt, or solidify a viable third line. 

    Even if the Wild must play him on the fly during road playoff games, deploying him over the boards during the course of play, they can play matchups at home. Rossi proved that he can score in the postseason, even though he was on the fourth line this year. Imagine what he could do on a line with a goalscoring winger.

    Guerin has managed the roster well in some capacity. He has Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Eriksson Ek on favorable contracts. However, like every general manager, he’ll have to balance offering a competitive contract to players who will want more money with the rising cap, while also considering the players he has under contract whom the Wild signed at a lower average annual value.

    Rossi also isn’t his top priority this offseason; he must re-sign Kirill Kaprizov. Still, Rossi is part of the formula for breaking out of the Wild’s first-round spell. 

    Good teams are deep at center, and Rossi is the perfect 3C. Still, Guerin appears to be concerned about his size, despite his production. If the Wild don’t commit to Rossi, some other team will come in and scoop him up. If that happens, Minnesota would lose talent because of mismanagement.

    They would be acting more like Calgary or Buffalo than Florida.

     

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    What this needs to talk about, yet continues to ignore, is Marco Rossi's contract or trade status. It's been at least a day since I've seen anything! 

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    Buffalo told the Wild they'd rather receive a 4th line winger and 3rd pairing D than pay Rossi $7M on a long term deal. The Wild are negotiating.

    The player's agent is working to maximize the contract value and get their cut, and the Wild have plenty of time. Lots of people were freaking out when Kaprizov's current deal stretched out quite a while, but it got done and both sides seem like they've been happy.

    Rossi will be fine. It might just take a while for his agent to accept a deal that works for the Wild.

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    Also see an interesting note from The Athletic in their "way too early predictions for the upcoming season". 4 writers sharing their dark horse cup contenders, one selecting the Wild.

    Quote

    They looked like one of the better teams in the West before the injuries last season, and gave the Golden Knights a good run in the first round despite just getting guys back into the lineup. With several key players in contract years, I feel like this could be the best Wild team we’ve seen in some time. -- Jesse Granger

    Granger covers the Vegas Golden Knights for The Athletic.

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    Billy is doing the right thing. Focus on Kap first and stay firm on Rossi.

    I know that Rossi-fans do not like to mention this during their outburst but let's restate

    • Rossi has lost the locker room, unlike Tkachuk and Bennett and Dumba
    • He was demoted for his play and looked disinterested at the most important time
    • We are in the driver seat so Rossi will just have to wait his turn
    • There is a team construct that you have to be mindful off - to have success you have to balance out your team; our top 6 have a collection of mostly skill/finesse players that get abused during POs - reality is Rossi is another one of those types of players.

    and stop with this "somebody please think of Rossi" cries!

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    Nice take on this situation, Tom.

    Guerin has created quite a conundrum for himself (along with ownership, Wild players, other NHL players and Wild fans), but he is not smart enough to realize it, too stubborn to admit that he is standing in a pile of his own do-do, or a combination of both.

    Is he rebuilding? No. Is he signing or trading for higher end talent? No. Is he developing young talent and prospects? No. Is he accumulating draft capital? No. Is he creating a winning culture? No. Is he developing trust and confidence both within and outside of the organization? No.

    Tom, you are exactly right. This team under Guerin is Buffalo or Calgary. They are years behind ten of the sixteen teams that made the playoffs last year, and will remain there as long as Guerin is allowed to continue his reign of mediocrity.

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    3 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    Has he been signed yet?

    That's your source?

    It sounds like you sit on the toilet, do your business, wipe, and then read what's on that paper and quote it as fact.

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    36 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    Nice take on this situation, Tom.

    Guerin has created quite a conundrum for himself (along with ownership, Wild players, other NHL players and Wild fans), but he is not smart enough to realize it, too stubborn to admit that he is standing in a pile of his own do-do, or a combination of both.

    Is he rebuilding? No. Is he signing or trading for higher end talent? No. Is he developing young talent and prospects? No. Is he accumulating draft capital? No. Is he creating a winning culture? No. Is he developing trust and confidence both within and outside of the organization? No.

    Tom, you are exactly right. This team under Guerin is Buffalo or Calgary. They are years behind ten of the sixteen teams that made the playoffs last year, and will remain there as long as Guerin is allowed to continue his reign of mediocrity.

    That's plain false. Stop with this nonsense. We were the best team in the league up until the injuries hit us. We have top draft class about to make it's debut and we are positioned well to go into TDL and be actual players. Enough of these silly takes Zona.

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    Time to take a break from reading and responding to ODC. No logic, no facts, no rational thinking. Sounds like a great fit to be an Assistant General Manager for the Minnesota Wild!

    Good bye, ODC!

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    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.

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    50 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    That's your source?

    It sounds like you sit on the toilet, do your business, wipe, and then read what's on that paper and quote it as fact.

    none of us know the truth but you can analyze the situation as best you can and predict - use your brain a bit

    if you want to read toilet paper signs - go for it

     

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    20 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    Time to take a break from reading and responding to ODC. No logic, no facts, no rational thinking. Sounds like a great fit to be an Assistant General Manager for the Minnesota Wild!

    Good bye, ODC!

    yes, please go take a nap and come back refreshed with more of your logic and facts.

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    3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    let's restate

    • Rossi has lost the locker room, unlike Tkachuk and Bennett and Dumba

    Russo has literally said that Rossi is "loved" in the locker room. Stick to calling the guy who skates more miles than all but like 10 guys in the NHL fat.

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    33 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

    Russo has literally said that Rossi is "loved" in the locker room. Stick to calling the guy who skates more miles than all but like 10 guys in the NHL fat.

    Russo knows the inner feelings of everyone in the locker room? 

    Faber? not my fault he has a bit butt

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    How about Zona, Wildguy, Tony and Tom state their proposal clearly. You are the GM. Tell the site - what would you do with Rossi. Give us your actual number. What is it?  8 X 8? 10, 11? 

    And also tell us if Zuccy, Rossi, Kap, Boldy, Ek and Yurov and Tarasenko will scare anyone in the PO?

    We'll wait.....

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    Buffalo ?    If Buffalo doesnt extend Tuch for atleast 7-7.5   we should not really use them as a measuring stick when justifying why they wouldnt pay Rossi 7 .   if they had any credibility they would  have that deal done already themselves .  

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    1 minute ago, Tony Abbott said:

    If he doesn't... how do you?

    you remember how Vlady talked to Kirill and then then Billy brought Vlady in? that was Kap move - agree?

    knowing Kirill has influence - i think it's a good assumption that Rossi wasn't given a green light (likely due to his performance)....if Kap wanted him - he'd be signed already

    hence you can connect the dots - leaders in the locker room has spoken

     

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    1 minute ago, OldDutchChip said:

    you remember how Vlady talked to Kirill and then then Billy brought Vlady in? that was Kap move - agree?

    knowing Kirill has influence - i think it's a good assumption that Rossi wasn't given a green light (likely due to his performance)....if Kap wanted him - he'd be signed already

    hence you can connect the dots - leaders in the locker room has spoken

     

    Kap might want him, but that doesn’t mean Billy would sign him for any amount of money.  

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    25 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    How about Zona, Wildguy, Tony and Tom state their proposal clearly. You are the GM. Tell the site - what would you do with Rossi. Give us your actual number. What is it?  8 X 8? 10, 11? 

    And also tell us if Zuccy, Rossi, Kap, Boldy, Ek and Yurov and Tarasenko will scare anyone in the PO?

    We'll wait.....

    The hardest thing in the universe to find is my opinion on what the GM should do with Rossi.

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    3 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    you remember how Vlady talked to Kirill and then then Billy brought Vlady in? that was Kap move - agree?

    No.

    Tarasenko called Kirill while deciding to waive his no trade clause to go to Minnesota, which means the trade was already in motion. What you're describing would be tampering. 

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    1 minute ago, SkolWild73 said:

    Kap might want him, but that doesn’t mean Billy would sign him for any amount of money.  

    i think Kap realizes that he needs someone to watch his back. he sees how brutal the POs are and he sees no one that can step in for him. seriously - that has to be major point - he is probably the only one that can get physical but why would you want to ask him to do that? so Billy is working to get him a physical top 6 linemate. that's why it's easier for Sasha to play in FL - with crazy Matthew and even crazier Bennett around. Kap needs that. He doesn't need Rossi. 

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    36 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    How about Zona, Wildguy, Tony and Tom state their proposal clearly. You are the GM. Tell the site - what would you do with Rossi. Give us your actual number. What is it?  8 X 8? 10, 11? 

    And also tell us if Zuccy, Rossi, Kap, Boldy, Ek and Yurov and Tarasenko will scare anyone in the PO?

    We'll wait.....

    Don't bother trying to explain your position, boss, I already know it.

    "I would simply trade Rossi for the biggest, best players in the league."

    God damn, it's so simple!!

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