Canucks and Kraken Re-Enter Trade Talks for Young Center, Maple Leafs Watching Closely
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
The Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks are both looking to potentially add Minnesota RFA Marco Rossi according to an RG.org report as the Maple Leafs continue to monitor the situation.
Although there have been reports that the Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi are at a contract impasse, there is a potential for the team to re-sign him and keep him in the fold after a long, drawn-out negotiation period.
The Maple Leafs are a team who could certainly use him, and with Rossi an RFA, they can swoop in, extend him long-term and have their 2C of the future. However, that's a lot easier said than done, and time is of the essence.
Rival Teams Circle Back on a Center With Upside
But there may be a bit more urgency now considering there are two new faces in the Rossi sweepstakes.
According to a new report from RG.org, both the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks are looking to get themselves in the Rossi talks, an unnamed source revealed to the site:
Both were in on Rossi leading into and at the NHL Entry Draft, and until probably mid-July, and I'm hearing that they've made it clear that if it gets to the point in the next month, where contract talks between Rossi and the Wild reach a point of no return, they want to see what it would take to acquire Rossi.
Both teams hold a distinct advantage over the Maple Leafs on the quest to acquire Rossi, as both teams have their first round picks, and in the case of the Kraken, have five first-round picks over the next three years; they have the assets.
How This Impacts Toronto's Options Down the Middle
Rossi, 23, broke out last season with the Wild but found himself shut out of the playoffs in a weird twist. In 82 games he registered 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) but only had three points in six postseason games and went from 18:15 TOI in the regular season to only 11:08 TOI in the playoffs.
He's no doubt going to have tons of suitors if he doesn't come to a deal with the Wild, and Toronto is going to have to shift gears quickly if he becomes unavailable. There's not a lot of time for the team to get their 2C if they want to this season, and waiting until free agency might be too long.
But what sucks for Brad Treliving and the Leafs is that they have barely any picks, and the only real assets are Easton Cowan and Ben Danford; so their options down the middle for a premium asset depends on them mortgaging their future yet again.
Toronto can wait until 2026, there are a ton of names and they'll have a ton of extra cap space but fans want to win now.
If they end up striking out on Rossi, and can't find themselves a proper replacement for Mitch Marner eventually...it won't only be the lack of championships the fans are going to be frustrated with.
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