Marco Rossi Training With Retired NHL Legend

Good for Marco to be working with Jumbo on faceoffs this offseason

Meanwhile Boldys making big gains with his sand wedge...

Wow, that article on the Dallas Stars is UGLY! Nothing less than I would expect from a team previously owned by Norm (sucks!) Greene.

I find this very interesting. Are they training together just by coincidence, they both just happened to be there? Or did Rossi seek out Joe and hire him?

What's interesting about it is Joe's new position with the Sharks. He has been hired as a player development coach and hockey operations advisor. Why would he be spending his time working with Rossi instead of Shark players?

I'm not insinuating anything, but if Joe gets to know Rossi very well and sees what kind of a player he truly is, I could see San Jose making a move to acquire him.

15 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

I find this very interesting. Are they training together just by coincidence, they both just happened to be there? Or did Rossi seek out Joe and hire him?

What's interesting about it is Joe's new position with the Sharks. He has been hired as a player development coach and hockey operations advisor. Why would he be spending his time working with Rossi instead of Shark players?

I'm not insinuating anything, but if Joe gets to know Rossi very well and sees what kind of a player he truly is, I could see San Jose making a move to acquire him.

From an article in a different Rossi thread  down bellow 

 I played against him once, back then with the ZSC Lions against Davos (30 October 2020, 6-3 win with Rossi's goal, note). That was my only league game, after that the thing happened with the heart. The training was brought about by my skills coach, who is in Davos and knows Joe Thornton quite well. Then we started talking and made it out.

There is a long interview with Rossi he gave to LAOLA1 at a kids camp here in Austria yesterday. Summary:

About contract situation. Honestly I dont need a longterm contract, bridge with 2 or 3 years would be ok for me. Its about a fair valuation, a fair deal for both MIN and me. I want to feel valued, thats very important. I'm definetly a line 1 or 2 player. And its about icetime. Every player knows in which salary area he belongs. I told them in my exit interview very boldly that I dont know if I can trust them if they dont have trust in me. Rossi says there is a standstill in the talks between his agent and BG. But he hopes and expects to sign for MIN in Sep. He seems relaxed about the contract situation, citing late signings of Seider, Raymond last year.

About training: After 2 weeks holiday in Marbella he started training with his personal coach in June. His training strategy is improving weaknesses and strengthening strengths. One focus is working on speed. The other is power in every area and mobility. At 176 cm height he is now on 89 kg (196 lbs) weight. Plus the mentioned face-off drills with JT. Rossi says he never felt fitter and better before. 

About his limited height and playing style: I hear that since I was a kid, since day 1 where ever I played and didn't ever care or listen. You have to compensate with power, mobility, speed and go to the areas where it hurts. Thats what I did! Mind: Most of my goals are from front-net positions. There are even smaller players around with tremendous success.

14 hours ago, fikifuka said:

There is a long interview with Rossi he gave to LAOLA1 at a kids camp here in Austria yesterday. Summary:

About contract situation. Honestly I dont need a longterm contract, bridge with 2 or 3 years would be ok for me. Its about a fair valuation, a fair deal for both MIN and me. I want to feel valued, thats very important. I'm definetly a line 1 or 2 player. And its about icetime. Every player knows in which salary area he belongs. I told them in my exit interview very boldly that I dont know if I can trust them if they dont have trust in me. Rossi says there is a standstill in the talks between his agent and BG. But he hopes and expects to sign for MIN in Sep. He seems relaxed about the contract situation, citing late signings of Seider, Raymond last year.

About training: After 2 weeks holiday in Marbella he started training with his personal coach in June. His training strategy is improving weaknesses and strengthening strengths. One focus is working on speed. The other is power in every area and mobility. At 176 cm height he is now on 89 kg (196 lbs) weight. Plus the mentioned face-off drills with JT. Rossi says he never felt fitter and better before. 

About his limited height and playing style: I hear that since I was a kid, since day 1 where ever I played and didn't ever care or listen. You have to compensate with power, mobility, speed and go to the areas where it hurts. Thats what I did! Mind: Most of my goals are from front-net positions. There are even smaller players around with tremendous success.

fikifuka,

Thanks for continuing to pass this sort of information along.  It's really interesting to read actual player perspectives amidst the endless speculation by media, blogs, fans, etc.

Part of me thinks that a lot of people (Rossi included) are blowing the whole "4th line" thing out of proportion.  That said, I don't know exactly what was said to him (and how it was said) when Rossi was told he would be centering the 4th line. 

If it's mainly ice time, just having a serviceable second powerplay unit should really help that for him regardless of what line he plays on since the Wild mainly only deploy one unit in those situations. 

Yes, he views himself as a top 6 forward, but deeper teams tend to have top 6 caliber forwards in their top 9.  I think part of being on a better team also requires accepting that the team is more important than the individual and sometimes you might be asked to fill a role that isn't necessarily to your liking.

Whatever the case, I do believe that Rossi is a good player and understand that he wants to feel valued.  I can also understand the Wild might have some concerns about things beyond physical stature.  Perhaps they have some apprehension about whether the myocarditis could return or something like that.  I doubt it's all just height.

I think things would probably go smoother between the two if Guerin and Rossi talked directly.  I know the agent is supposed to be handling the contract for the player, but the agent is also looking to get the most for himself too, and sometimes that just complicates matters.

1 hour ago, raithis said:

fikifuka,

Thanks for continuing to pass this sort of information along.  It's really interesting to read actual player perspectives amidst the endless speculation by media, blogs, fans, etc.

Part of me thinks that a lot of people (Rossi included) are blowing the whole "4th line" thing out of proportion.  That said, I don't know exactly what was said to him (and how it was said) when Rossi was told he would be centering the 4th line. 

If it's mainly ice time, just having a serviceable second powerplay unit should really help that for him regardless of what line he plays on since the Wild mainly only deploy one unit in those situations. 

Yes, he views himself as a top 6 forward, but deeper teams tend to have top 6 caliber forwards in their top 9.  I think part of being on a better team also requires accepting that the team is more important than the individual and sometimes you might be asked to fill a role that isn't necessarily to your liking.

Whatever the case, I do believe that Rossi is a good player and understand that he wants to feel valued.  I can also understand the Wild might have some concerns about things beyond physical stature.  Perhaps they have some apprehension about whether the myocarditis could return or something like that.  I doubt it's all just height.

I think things would probably go smoother between the two if Guerin and Rossi talked directly.  I know the agent is supposed to be handling the contract for the player, but the agent is also looking to get the most for himself too, and sometimes that just complicates matters.

I'm glad, Raithis, that you and some other guys apreciate my 'service'. 

Rossi was asked exactly your question: How did you learn beeing dropped to 4th line? MR: "Just came to the locker room and saw it on the board. There was no communication or explanation. But hockey is a teamsport and of course you have to do what you are told to do, what is best for the team and thats what I did."

My impression from those 2 summer-interviews with Rossi is that the playoff thing doesn't bother him anymore. But people, journalists are curious and ask questions and he has to answer. Its part of both jobs. He is a realistic, adult pro and knows that such things happen all the time in every teamsport. He lives in the here and now. 

He also admitted that a long season (88 games) takes his toll and that he felt a little tired at the end of the season. In his July-interview with ORF he also said (I didn't mention it then) that "with my NHL experience I have now I know what I have to add in this summer training". What ever that means...

I personally think that the myocarditis is absolutely no issue anymore. How could he play 2 full seasons (including World Cup last year) if it were a problem? 

2 hours ago, raithis said:

That said, I don't know exactly what was said to him (and how it was said) when Rossi was told he would be centering the 4th line. 

Nothing was said to him about 4th line deployment and that is exactly one of the problems. He learned from it by seeing a board in the locker room.Said in the same interview in Austria 

On 8/5/2025 at 6:07 PM, Scalptrash said:

Why would he be spending his time working with Rossi instead of Shark players?

Why not ? Big Joe Thornton is often in Switzerland and also Rossi has done a lot of milage in Switzerland for his development as a player .

And there is no harm in talking to a HoF player even more so when he is the development coach for the San  Jose Sharks .

Hasso Plattner the owner of the Sharks grew up in Konstanz Germany.

Marco Rossi in Hohenems Austria . Distance between the two places.

Roughly 40 miles 

5 minutes ago, goenzoy said:

Why not ? Big Joe Thornton is often in Switzerland and also Rossi has done a lot of milage in Switzerland for his development as a player .

And there is no harm in talking to a HoF player even more so when he is the development coach for the San  Jose Sharks .

Hasso Plattner the owner of the Sharks grew up in Konstanz Germany.

Marco Rossi in Hohenems Austria . Distance between the two places.

Roughly 40 miles 

I suppose it's not too much different than Kap training with Malkin in the offseason.

5 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

suppose it's not too much different than Kap training with Malkin in the offseason.

Any off season training is good for any player 

Always works in your favour if you turn up prepared in training camp.

But there are too many Rossi stories people should be far more prepared for development s with Kaprisov

2 hours ago, fikifuka said:

I'm glad, Raithis, that you and some other guys apreciate my 'service'. 

Rossi was asked exactly your question: How did you learn beeing dropped to 4th line? MR: "Just came to the locker room and saw it on the board. There was no communication or explanation. But hockey is a teamsport and of course you have to do what you are told to do, what is best for the team and thats what I did."

My impression from those 2 summer-interviews with Rossi is that the playoff thing doesn't bother him anymore. But people, journalists are curious and ask questions and he has to answer. Its part of both jobs. He is a realistic, adult pro and knows that such things happen all the time in every teamsport. He lives in the here and now. 

He also admitted that a long season (88 games) takes his toll and that he felt a little tired at the end of the season. In his July-interview with ORF he also said (I didn't mention it then) that "with my NHL experience I have now I know what I have to add in this summer training". What ever that means...

I personally think that the myocarditis is absolutely no issue anymore. How could he play 2 full seasons (including World Cup last year) if it were a problem? 

It sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulders.  Sometimes it seems like it takes players his age a little longer to figure those things out.

Regarding the myocarditis, I have no doubt that it's healed up too.  I guess my point is that it could happen again, and it isn't like COVID isn't around anymore.  I didn't get any symptoms of COVID back in 2020, but I developed pneumonia in both lungs and spent some time in the hospital.  I've been told that once you have conditions like that, you are considered more prone to having them again.  So if Rossi developed myocarditis as a result of COVID, I am under the impression that it is more probable that it could happen again since his body reacted badly to it once before.  I'm not saying it will, but it could be another thing the Wild are worried about.

18 hours ago, Enforceror said:

I suppose it's not too much different than Kap training with Malkin in the offseason.

I wouldn't look into it much, players seem to spend their summers gravitating towards where they're comfortable.  Lots of guys head towards Boston/MN/etc as they're comfortable there or trained there previously.

Due to his appearance in Da Beauty League, I'm assuming Brock Nelson is training in MN this summer.  Clearly, not a sign he's looking to sign in MN

There was recently a picture of Crosby/MacKinnon/Marchand with the Stanley Cup (since those guys train in Nova Scotia together over the summer), Crosby and BigMac were wearing BM63 caps in one picture.  

You know the ol' saying, steel sharpens steel, so it's not surprising these guys gravitate towards training with each other on the off season, even if they're not on the same teams.

On 8/5/2025 at 9:18 PM, fikifuka said:

I'm definetly a line 1 or 2 player. And its about icetime. Every player knows in which salary area he belongs. I told them in my exit interview very boldly that I dont know if I can trust them if they dont have trust in me. 

 

So he's overvaluing himself. He's definitely a line 1 or 2 player? You definitely didn't play that way during the playoffs, Rossi. You definitely didn't produce that way when Kaprizov and Ek were out. Only 4 points in all of March. 

So how are they supposed to trust you when your play is up and down? Sounds like he needs to take a real hard look at himself and his own play before he starts making demands of the FO. 

Rossi got a contract yet?