Canucks Eye Trade for Minnesota Wild’s Marco Rossi, But Offer Falls Short
The Vancouver Canucks have shown serious interest in acquiring Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild, but their current trade offer hasn’t impressed the Wild’s management.
According to a report by The Athletic’s Mike Russo, later confirmed by Postmedia, the Canucks recently attempted to land Rossi by offering their 15th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft along with an unnamed player. It remains unclear whether the additional piece is a current NHL player or a developing prospect. Russo indicated that Wild General Manager Bill Guerin is more interested in receiving a proven NHL player rather than a prospect.
Speculation about the Canucks’ pursuit of Rossi has been circulating for some time, particularly since negotiations between the player and the Wild stalled.
Rossi is reportedly dissatisfied with his current situation in Minnesota, especially after being relegated to a fourth-line role by head coach John Hynes late in the season and during the playoffs.
Having completed his entry-level contract — which paid around $1.7 million annually with bonuses — Rossi was offered a five-year extension by the Wild worth roughly $5 million per season. However, he and his agent declined that proposal, countering with a shorter-term deal with a higher annual salary.
Vancouver’s interest in Rossi is understandable. Despite his smaller stature, he’s a skilled and intelligent centre who tallied 60 points last season. He could be a strong fit behind Elias Pettersson as a second-line pivot.
However, if the Canucks hope to secure a deal, they’ll need to significantly improve their offer — and the question remains whether they have the roster assets that would truly appeal to Minnesota.
