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By Kalisha Turnipseed -
The Minnesota Wild have finally signed Kirill Kaprizov, and now it's time to rejoice. However, what does this mean for Marco Rossi, who might have something to lose after the Kaprizov extension?
Rossi hasn’t signed a long-term extension like Kaprizov, who will make $136 million ($17 million AAV). Rossi was signed to a three-year, $15 million ($5 million AAV) contract.
Am I saying that Rossi should've gotten a paycheck like Kaprizov or even Matt Boldy?
Not exactly.
He isn't in the same category of talent as Kaprizov. Rossi doesn't have the same stick-handling skills as Boldy, either. Still, Rossi has good hockey sense, as evidenced by his ability to be in the right place at the right time. How far can that take him? Can they afford Rossi on his next deal? Will they keep him or Filip Gustavsson?
Rossi is showing improvement, and Guerin should capitalize on his growth. However, Rossi is in a potential lose-lose situation. If his play declines, the Wild will trade him. If he produces like a top-line center, he’ll probably price himself out of Minnesota. Rossi won't accept another team-friendly deal lower than $8 million AAV. The Wild have Boldy signed for $7 million AAV, which is a bargain.
Kaprizov’s extension kicks in after this season. He'll be able to experience the development of Boldy, Rossi, Brock Faber, Zeev Buium, and Jesper Wallstedt as their primary core. Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, David Jiricek, Hunter Haight, and Adam Benak can potentially support their core.
Joel Eriksson Ek is also a bargain, and Rossi needs to become more valuable to the team offensively than Eriksson Ek. Eriksson Ek will always get more defensive minutes than Rossi, so Rossi needs to be more productive offensively than Eriksson Ek. Eriksson Ek didn't become a 60-point producer until age 26. Rossi already reached that milestone at age 23. If he progresses to a 75-80 point producer, then the Wild must consider extending him long-term.
Rossi should be a point-per-game player if he’s on a line with Kaprizov and Boldy. Given that Kaprizov will occupy much of the Wild’s cap space, and they have locked in a lot of their cap space, Guerin must rely on players he’s drafted and is developing. There’s enough talent on Minnesota’s roster to maximize Rossi’s production. He’s a first-line player even if he’s the third-most talented player on that line.
By the start of the 2026-27 season, Guerin will need to decide if he’s going to extend Rossi. Guerin wants to build a contender around Kaprizov. The Wild should strive to build an annual contender, rather than relying on a single Stanley Cup run.
Rossi may take another team-friendly deal if he's playing with Kaprizov, one of the best players in the world. He knows that if he demands too much cap space, they’ll trade him because of Kaprizov’s contract. Rossi is known for being a good team player, so he may stay in a good situation.
Rossi will be entering his fifth season in the league. Will he stay on the top line, or will the Wild package him in a big trade? At this point, Rossi will need to show he's irreplaceable. He won't have to worry about another prospect replacing him.
Will Rossi be an established point-per-game producer? If he doesn’t, I could see Guerin targeting Sidney Crosby or Artemi Panarin. Could he land both? Guerin would have to be very strategic in pulling that off. He could try to land both in free agency from 2026 to 2027. Rossi may still be on the team by then, assuming they don’t trade him.
Marc-Andre Fleury works for the Wild, and he has moved his family to Minnesota. He just finished his NHL career, retiring with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fleury and Crosby are best friends. Do you know who else are best friends and have the same agent? Kaprizov and Panarin. It isn't as far-fetched as many would think. Kaprizov and Fleury have the power to recruit Crosby and Panarin to Minnesota.
The Wild will need to make the most of Kaprizov’s extension. Rossi may be the odd man out because he's in a lose-lose situation. It's unfortunate because he's doing all the right things to be a successful NHL center. However, he may accept another team-friendly deal, sticking with Kaprizov as his winger. As long as he wins the Cup, it shouldn't matter how much he's getting paid.
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