For the past year, trade rumors have swirled around Marco Rossi, the 23-year-old Minnesota Wild center. Drafted ninth overall in 2020, the Wild don’t see him as the top-line center they envisioned, viewing him instead as a bottom-six player unless paired with Kirill Kaprizov.
As a pending restricted free agent, the Wild face a choice: offer short-term deals that lead to free agency, clashing with Rossi’s desire for a bigger role, or sign him long-term. GM Bill Guerin might opt to trade Rossi for a player better fitting the team’s vision.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo confirms Rossi could be with a new team next season, and RG Media’s Jimmy Murphy reports the Philadelphia Flyers are among the teams interested in the young Austrian center.
“For whatever reason—I think maybe he just doesn’t fit the Guerin mold—there doesn’t seem to be a fit there in Minnesota,” another NHL source told RG. “Whatever it is, there’s a market for him right now. I think some teams see him as a real middle-six guy with a lot of upside. He may not be as physical as you’d like, but the skill is there.”
— Jimmy Murphy, RG.org
Multiple NHL teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken, are interested in trading for Marco Rossi, per NHL sources. The Flyers have prior interest, having discussed Rossi in a potential trade for Cutter Gauthier, though it’s unclear who initiated his inclusion.
Rossi, a 5-foot-9 center, plays bigger with aggressive forechecking and speed, capable of elevating top players like Kirill Kaprizov or stabilizing the middle six. While not ideal alongside Jett Luchanko due to their similar size, Rossi’s aggressive style fits the Flyers’ vision under coach Rick Tocchet.
The Flyers are well-positioned to offer long-term NHL players, unlike the prospect-heavy Blackhawks, the prospect-poor Penguins, the mismatched Sabres, or the conservative Kraken. Rossi, coming off a healthy 82-game season with 24 goals and 60 points (18:15 TOI), could address key Flyers’ needs.
