Vancouver Hockey Daily has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, NHL or NHLPA
Vancouver Canucks Now Lead the Race to Land Minnesota Wild Star Marco Rossi Following Announcement
Photo credit: The Athletic
An NHL insider has given a big update on the Vancouver Canucks' pursuit of Minnesota Wild RFA forward Marco Rossi, being named as front-runners due to being the club with the highest amount of interest.
This summer, the Vancouver Canucks are hoping to be aggressive and land a second line centerman, which is something the organization desperately needs following the departure of J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers via trade back in late January.
Over the past few weeks, a number of different names have popped up as potential options for the Vancouver Canucks including Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi, who is set to become a restricted free agent on Tuesday, July 1st.
NHL insider gives update on Vancouver Canucks' pursuit of Marco Rossi
Vancouver's interest in Marco Rossi was confirmed last week by Michael Russo of The Athletic, who covers the Minnesota Wild on a daily basis and his sources told him that the Canucks really like the centerman.
Further to that, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks are all looking for second line centerman and that Patrik Allvin's group appear to have the most interest in Marco Rossi than the other two Canadian teams.
"The Calgary Flames, the Vancouver Canucks and the Canadiens are among the Canadian teams looking for a young No. 2 center, but I would say among those three, the Canucks have the most interest in Wild center Marco Rossi. The Flames have mild interest (they would rather get a center with more size), and I don't think the Habs are on that very much at all." LeBrun said.
Rossi, 23, took a big step forward this year with the Minnesota Wild and saw a 20-point increase when compared to the 2023-24 season, while averaging 18:15 ice time per game.
In 82 games, the Feldkirch, Austria native put up 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists), 23 penalty minutes and was a plus-three, before adding three points in six contests during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While many would expect the cost to be sky high for a player like Rossi, who's young and coming off a career-year, it doesn't appear that'll be the case as Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects says it'll likely be a package featuring futures (prospects and/or picks), which the Wild could then flip to another team to land a centerman that suits their team better than the Austrian forward.
"Don't expect a blockbuster return, instead, watch for the Wild to do a two-part deal: move Rossi for futures, then flip those or other assets for a centre they believe can fit their demands more actively." Robinson said.
We'll have to wait and see where things go on this front over the next few weeks, but it certainly looks like the Vancouver Canucks would like to add Marco Rossi to their group.
Source: Pierre LeBrun/The Athletic
NHL rumblings: Latest on Kreider, Marchand, Tavares, Pettersson, more as the summer market heats up
NHL rumblings: Latest on Kreider, Marchand, Tavares, Pettersson, more as the summer market heats up
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 1487 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Now Lead the Race to Land Minnesota Wild Star Marco Rossi Following Announcement Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will land Marco Rossi this summer? | ||
| Yes | 691 | 46.5 % |
| No | 796 | 53.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
