Marco Rossi Signs 3-Year, $15M Deal with Wild After Long Standoff
After months of uncertainty and heated negotiations, the Minnesota Wild and young forward Marco Rossi have finally come to terms on a new contract. The 23-year-old restricted free agent has been signed to a three-year deal worth $15 million, putting an end to a stalemate that stretched through most of the offseason. This agreement not only secures Rossi’s immediate future with the team but also signals the Wild’s intent to keep him in their plans, at least for the near term.
Rossi, who will now carry a $5 million annual cap hit, is coming off his best season yet in the NHL. He tallied 24 goals and 60 points across all 82 games last year, showing flashes of the offensive creativity and playmaking ability that made him a top-ten draft pick back in 2020. In the playoffs, though, his role was reduced. His average ice time dipped from over 18 minutes per game during the regular season to just above 11 in the postseason. Despite that, he still managed to chip in two goals and one assist over six playoff appearances.
Also Read:This deal didn’t come easily. Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Vancouver had offered the Wild the 15th overall pick in exchange for Rossi, but general manager Bill Guerin declined. The team was never fully committed to trading him, though Guerin admitted he was “not dying” to move the player but would listen if the right deal came along. Contract negotiations, meanwhile, were tense. The Wild had initially put forward a five-year, $25 million offer during the season, which was turned down by Rossi’s camp in favor of shorter-term flexibility. Rossi’s agent, Ian Pulver, even acknowledged publicly that there was “a difference of opinion” regarding his client’s value and role with the team.
Adding to the drama, speculation swirled around trade interest from other teams. The Seattle Kraken were reportedly intrigued by Rossi, with insiders suggesting that their leading scorer, Jared McCann, might have been involved in a possible package. The Canucks, too, remained interested, though no serious move was made. In the end, all the rumors and proposals gave way to a compromise bridge deal that keeps Rossi in Minnesota while giving him the chance to prove his long-term worth.
For the Wild, this contract is more than just a resolution to an offseason headache. Rossi, at only 23, still represents one of the organization’s most promising young forwards. Drafted ninth overall just five years ago, he has already notched 45 goals and over 100 points in his 185-game career. His smaller frame at 5-foot-9 has been a frequent talking point, but Rossi has made it clear he is working to add strength and prove doubters wrong.
Now with this new deal in place, the question shifts to how big a role Rossi will play moving forward. Will he be trusted with more ice time in the playoffs? Will he emerge as a cornerstone of the franchise? Only time will tell, but what’s certain is that Marco Rossi’s future with the Wild is no longer in limbo.
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