The Vancouver Canucks are hot after the Minnesota Wild’s Marco Rossi, a source has confirmed.
As first reported by The Athletic’s Mike Russo, Postmedia has confirmed the Canucks have tried to pry the young centre away from the Wild in a trade, offering up their 15th overall draft pick in next week’s NHL Entry Draft, plus a player. Whether that player is on the NHL roster or a prospect isn’t currently known. Russo’s reporting suggests that Wild GM Bill Guerin is after an NHL roster player, rather than a prospect.
The Canucks’ interest in Rossi has been reported for a while, ever since it became clear that contract talks between the young centre and the team were at an impasse.
It’s believed Rossi became disillusioned with his role on the team, with head coach John Hynes using him mostly as a fourth-line centre late in the season and in the playoffs.
Rossi has just finished his entry-level deal, which paid him about $1.7 million per season after bonuses.
According to Russo, the Wild at one point offered a five-year extension paying about $5 million per season, but Rossi and his agent turned offer down and countered with a proposal that was shorter in term and higher in annual value.
The Canucks’ interest in Rossi is understandable: he’s a smart, crafty centre, even if he’s short in stature. He had 60 points for the Wild this past season and would slot in well behind Elias Pettersson as a second-line centre.
But if the Canucks are going to snag him, they’ll clearly have to offer more than they have so far — but what can they really give up off their roster that would entice the Wild to make a deal?