Wild GM Bill Guerin Speaks on Marco Rossi Trade Rumors

That's why the daily grind is just social media babble.  We can speculate all we want (fun or frustrating exercises they are), but the only things that ever matter are "This guy has been traded or signed or called up." 

Coulds, mights, may, and maybes mean nothing in the end.

Congrats bill.  The media training has worked.  No offensive or ultimatum comments this time.  Play it right down the middle. 
 

ill speculate that bill is not impressed with the interest level re Marco so he’s now pivoting to ‘its possible he stays’.  This should also bring Marco’s agent back down to earth re his demands 

Pretty easy to read between the lines. See ya Marco, I hope you're next team appreciates you!

I don't understand why many commenters think that Guerin doesn't want to make this team better. Of course he does! He has made some really good moves and some duds, but the really good moves seem to be closer to a 2-1 pace. 

Call it lucky, maybe. 

For me, I'm a little in the ODC/Protec column where we need to bring more nasty to the top 6. I haven't paid much attention to this guy except for see he scores a lot of goals and is a very large man with intensity. At 34, could a Chris Kreider help this team out for a couple of years?

Kreider has a 15 team M-NTC, is Minnesota on that list? He does not want to be traded from NYR, but, Drury doesn't seem to want his $6.5m contract around for the next couple of years. Kreider's numbers dipped this past year, but he dealt with an ear infection/vertigo for a section of the season. Is he healed? What was the cause? 

I'm hearing that Drury does not like to retain cap. But even last year's production at $6.5m seems like value, and we've got some cap to work with. I also don't know how much longer Kreider can be effective, but I would suggest that a couple of years probably works. I have no idea on how well he skates, but, I do know that if you're dealing with vertigo it can make you look pretty weird. I'm also not sure if any of this can be brought on by a concussion, though a virus seems like the best answer. 

Any thoughts?

Important note in that discussion that I didn't see included above.

Quote

Guerin categorized the Wild’s two contract offers to Rossi as “significant.”

“They don’t like it,” Guerin said. “And that’s fine. This is not a knock on them. They feel he’s of more value. But to say I don’t like him, if you knew what the value of what those contract offers were, you’d say, ‘Oh, he definitely likes him and wants to keep him.’”

--The Athletic

12 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I don't understand why many commenters think that Guerin doesn't want to make this team better. Of course he does! He has made some really good moves and some duds, but the really good moves seem to be closer to a 2-1 pace.

I'd say maybe 1:1 at best. His good moves seem to be luck, more than anything. His bad moves are really bad.

Did he keep the team competitive through the cap hell? Yes. But for what end goal other than to keep butts in seats. He created the cap hell and blew a golden opportunity to rebuild this team from the ground up. I have a feeling by this time next year, we'll be talking about the Wild's new GM.

15 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Important note in that discussion that I didn't see included above.

--The Athletic

So, I hear a lot about 7 x 7 is out of line. But is it? The market had been set and it seems like he qualifies for that. I really don't think it's out of line. (shrug)

30 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Call it lucky, maybe. 

 

 

I've been saying t all along and I still believe it to be true...

This is what I took away from Russo's column:

Quote

it’s very unlikely now that Rossi would accept a bridge deal and risk being deployed in the bottom six during the term of his next contract. After the season, he said he was “very disappointed” with how the Wild used him in the playoffs.

Rossi doesn't have much if any leverage. Any offersheet he signs will need to be with a non-competitive team for over $7.1m and a lot of term, otherwise it will be matched. Perhaps he doesn't want to be here anymore? Maybe he feels mistreated? Regardless, he's got 1 way out, an offersheet that overpays him where the Wild receive compensation in a deal they can't refuse. 

Russo also makes it seem spooky that he gets an offersheet, like that means he's gone. Why is anyone scared of offersheets? You get the chance to match the contract, or take the compensation. Anything with a 1st & 3rd compensation is likely off the table for not being matched. I would expect something in the $7.02-9.36m window. If you get that from, say, a Chicago, I'd take the compensation and hope for the lottery pick in '26!

The other interesting quote is:

Quote

Marco’s a good player and I’m not interested in making our team worse or postponing our team being better. So I’m not dying to get rid of Marco. That’s the bottom line.”

This would tend to indicate that Guerin is not looking for picks, he is looking for players that are NHL quality now. 

At the end of the article, Russo speculates that the Wild are willing to qualify Chissy. I think that's a good move. Maybe Chissy gets an offersheet for $1.544m and we get a 3rd rounder? 

19 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

Did he keep the team competitive through the cap hell? Yes. But for what end goal other than to keep butts in seats

From what we know about OCL, was this not what he was tasked to do? Rebuild was a 4 letter word around the front office.

32 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Important note in that discussion that I didn't see included above.

--The Athletic

Ok, airing it out in the press is a slippery slope bill.  Don't be dumb now.  Don't get your feelings hurt and then burn to the ground any chances of Rossi signing here.  Be a big boy bill.  Your job is to effectively manage the Wild's assets.  Rossi is an asset with a market value.  If he will not sign here that's ok, but your job is to get value in return.

54 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Ok, airing it out in the press is a slippery slope bill.  Don't be dumb now.  Don't get your feelings hurt and then burn to the ground any chances of Rossi signing here.  Be a big boy bill.  Your job is to effectively manage the Wild's assets.  Rossi is an asset with a market value.  If he will not sign here that's ok, but your job is to get value in return.

I don't disagree with your take, but I think it's somewhat in response to Russo and/or other media members saying Guerin doesn't like Rossi and it's clear that he wants to trade him. I think the idea that they like him and are trying to retain him is probably a good message to have out in the media.

I didn't love reading the suggestion that Johansson could come back on a small deal. He continues to do decently well in the less physical international competitions, but we know he's a bad fit for the Wild's top 2 lines and he doesn't fit in with a 3rd line or 4th line, so I don't really want him at any price.

Within the next 5 weeks, we should have a much clearer picture of what Guerin's vision is for 2025 and beyond. Like Zoolander's "Magnum", hopefully the new look for the Wild will blow us all away.

Never know what to make of all these reports on Rossi being traded.  It does sound to me that Billy is willing to make moves, but not to give anyone away, including Rossi.  Below is an article about Rossi to the flyers and how earlier reporting that we wanted we false.  Take it for what it’s worth.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/sources_rossis_beefy_contract_demand_a_roadblock_for_wild_in_trade_talks/s1_16958_42273890
 

Hey, at least we resigned Nojo…

Another year of JoJo 🤮...as long as he doesn't play over Ohgren!  For crying out loud, what a kick in the nuts!

3 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Ill speculate that bill is not impressed with the interest level re Marco so he’s now pivoting to ‘its possible he stays’. 

Has their ever been an official comment that it's been anything but that all along?  Why does everyone come to the conclusion that they have zero interest in bringing him back?  The fact that there have been contract discussions at all should indicate that there is no pivot occurring and it's always been 'it's possible he stays'. 

Yes, it's also possible he is dealt (all players a team has rights to are assets after all), but for all the crap Guerin gets about being too emotional and dramatic, people like Russo get a free pass for drumming up more drama than there really is and people buy into it like speculation and personal opinions are facts.

I'm a bit flummoxed by Rossi's play this year.  I thought he played well through Feb, but his play dropped off.  I also think the Wild lack patience when it comes to young developing players.  We've watched too much young talent go out the door and play well with other teams.  Rossi is still getting better.  If he is traded it better be something really good.  If we sign him, I hope he figures out why his game dropped off.

38 minutes ago, raithis said:

Has their ever been an official comment that it's been anything but that all along?  Why does everyone come to the conclusion that they have zero interest in bringing him back?  The fact that there have been contract discussions at all should indicate that there is no pivot occurring and it's always been 'it's possible he stays'. 

Yes, it's also possible he is dealt (all players a team has rights to are assets after all), but for all the crap Guerin gets about being too emotional and dramatic, people like Russo get a free pass for drumming up more drama than there really is and people buy into it like speculation and personal opinions are facts.

Agreed.  Rossi trade rumors have been out there from Russo about Rossi for over a year.  I always take all of these trade rumors with a grain of salt.  I remember watching last year the top 20 trade targets from daily faceoff and I think 3 or 4 of them were traded during the offseason.  A few others were traded during the season or at the deadline.  Gus was one of them based on reports from Russo and Smith that we were looking to trade him.

Rossi is 3 on the list from last week.  Peterka is one.

NoJo back but at 800k... I am less angry than I thought I would be, the 800k makes this not as bad in my opinion. While he is an easy target the 800k doesn't make it impossible to ProssBox him if someone beats him out, adds cheap safety blanket if and when there are injuries and last year put up 11 goals and 34 points. We know what we are getting but the price isn't bad for it and it doesn't block anyone. I just hope they use him as a fill in for injury, takes place of Ohgren or Yurov if they totally flop or piece used to get someone rest. If he is full time line 2, the Wild have bigger issues.

2 hours ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Another year of JoJo 🤮...as long as he doesn't play over Ohgren!  For crying out loud, what a kick in the nuts!

Noooooooooo!!! That's strike one for next season. I think this all but guarantees Ohgren has no future with the Wild, at least this coming season. Sad...very sad.

10 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

NoJo back but at 800k... I am less angry than I thought I would be, the 800k makes this not as bad in my opinion. While he is an easy target the 800k doesn't make it impossible to ProssBox him if someone beats him out, adds cheap safety blanket if and when there are injuries and last year put up 11 goals and 34 points. We know what we are getting but the price isn't bad for it and it doesn't block anyone. I just hope they use him as a fill in for injury, takes place of Ohgren or Yurov if they totally flop or piece used to get someone rest. If he is full time line 2, the Wild have bigger issues.

What are the odds Protec is doing backflips about now?

11 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

Noooooooooo!!! That's strike one for next season. I think this all but guarantees Ohgren has no future with the Wild, at least this coming season. Sad...very sad.

I don't love it either, but Ohgren actually has a higher salary than Johansson now, so I'm not thinking it ensures that he plays above Ohgren. If Ohgren isn't traded and is healthy the whole season, I could see him getting more ice time for the Wild than Johansson.

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

I don't love it either, but Ohgren actually has a higher salary than Johansson now, so I'm not thinking it ensures that he plays above Ohgren. If Ohgren isn't traded and is healthy the whole season, I could see him getting more ice time for the Wild than Johansson.

If all goes well it will be a lot more ice time for Ohgren. I am still not happy about it though. I would much rather give a young guy any ice time reserved for NoJo.

1 hour ago, Willy the poor boy said:

What are the odds Protec is doing backflips about now?

I will take the over at YES. Protec, you doing ok?

5 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

If all goes well it will be a lot more ice time for Ohgren. I am still not happy about it though. I would much rather give a young guy any ice time reserved for NoJo.

Same here. Yurov, Ohgren, Haight, Heidt. All of those guys offer more upside even if they aren't better today. With Johansson only making $800k, Hinostroza is the only guy with a lower contract who isn't on an ELC, so it's not a cap-killing deal, but I'd prefer a younger, and ideally a stronger player in that roster spot since the person in it should be playing line 4.

Johansson turns 35 in October, so there's really no upside. Nyquist was a far better player at 34 and his game fell off drastically at 35...at least it's only $800k is the best thing I can say about it.

NoJo wasn't significantly ahead of Ohgren or Hinostroza in points/60 despite playing with some of the top point scorers on the Wild(outside of Kaprizov).

5 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Guerin categorized the Wild’s two contract offers to Rossi as “significant.”

“They don’t like it,” Guerin said. “And that’s fine. This is not a knock on them. They feel he’s of more value. But to say I don’t like him, if you knew what the value of what those contract offers were, you’d say, ‘Oh, he definitely likes him and wants to keep him.’”

If this is true and we have no way of knowing if Billy is telling us straight up truth then this indicates to me Rossi simply wants out. Rossi is only 23 his payday is yet to come. He's not getting it here or now. He is concerned he is going to be buried in Billy's dog house line up and never get his chance to sell himself. He will take less to go somewhere else now and wait for his payday.

 I don't think for one minute Billy does not have his fingers on the roster line up and players minutes particularly in the playoffs. Which is how his emotional support pet MAF got to play 5 games against the Blues before throwing Talbot under the train. My guess Rossi feels his being choked off in the playoffs came at Billy's discretion. Another broken player relationship that is at the feet of Billy.