NHL Insider Confirms Major Rumor That Could Send Marco Rossi to the Vancouver Canucks
Photo credit: The Athletic
An NHL insider has officially confirmed the Rumour that the Vancouver Canucks will be pursuing to acquire former first-round pick and pending restricted free agent Marco Rossi.
Although interested, it will not be an easy task as they aren't alone in their quest for the talented Austrian forward.
As the Vancouver Canucks' search search for a second line centerman continues Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford are going to have a number of different players to consider, with action expected to pick up around the draft, as is the case every year.
Realistically, the only way the Vancouver Canucks are going to land a legit second line centerman this summer is through a trade as aside from players such as Sam Bennett and John Tavares, the free agent class in 2025 isn't very deep, especially down the middle.
Insider confirms Vancouver Canucks' interest in Minnesota Wild RFA
In May, reports circulated about the Minnesota Wild potentially moving on from Marco Rossi, who they selected ninth overall back in 2020, with the forward seeking a contract similar to that of Matt Boldy's (7 years x $7 million AAV) and wants to be in the top-six, which given his production this season, he certainly deserves more minutes.
"I've showed all year long how good I am. And (going) from 40 points to 60 points this year. And anyone who knows me, it's always going up and I always improve, and especially with my work ethic. So I've (got) no doubt, I'm for sure a top-six guy." Rossi said according to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic.
With the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi's camp hitting a stalemate in contract talks, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic, teams have begun to call General Manager Bill Guerin regarding the RFA forward.
While Guerin told Russo on Sunday that he's not necessarily wanting to move on from Marco Rossi, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is reporting that the Minnesota Wild are shopping him and among the teams with interest are the Vancouver Canucks.
Along with the Vancouver Canucks, Pagnotta shared that the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers are among those who have interest in landing Marco Rossi this summer.
"The Minnesota Wild are exploring the trade market, once again, on young center Marco Rossi, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent July 1.
Several teams are believed to have varying degrees of interest in Rossi, including the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers." The Fourth Period said.
Several teams are believed to have varying degrees of interest in Rossi, including the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers." The Fourth Period said.
Rossi, a native of Feldkirch, Austria, is coming off a solid season for the Wild where he saw a 20-point increase from the 2023-24 campaign as he registered 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists), 26 penalty minutes and was a plus-three in 82 games.
If Rossi is seeking $7 million a year on a long-term contract, it's not going to be easy for the Vancouver Canucks to do a deal like that as they only have $14.1 million in projected cap space, according to PuckPedia.
As the team has other areas they would like to address this summer with that $14.1 million, it seems unlikely that they'd be willing to give out a contract like that without moving money out, possibly someone like Thatcher Demko, who is reportedly open to a change of scenery as he enters the final year of his deal in 2025-26.
Source: The Fourth Period
WILD SHOPPING ROSSI AMID CONTRACT DEMANDS
WILD SHOPPING ROSSI AMID CONTRACT DEMANDS
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