Wild Forward Emerges as Potential Top-Six Trade Target for Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs might be able to add a huge name to their top-six and potentially replace Mitch Marner to some degree, they just gotta get a little wild.
Although the team is going to be without Mitch Marner for the first time in nine years, the Maple Leafs are still going to be able to go out there and compete; it might not lead to a Division Title again, but it should give them a really solid playoff spot.
Among the firepower on the team lies two main stars now with Marner's departure: Auston Matthews and William Nylander. They are going to be asked to be unreal next season, and Nylander might find his footing and reach the 50-goal plateau.
But if Brad Treliving wanted to really make a big splash, and give Nylander the perfect running mate, while adding a ton of offensive potential at the same age as Matthew Knies?
They should seriously consider Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild.
Marco Rossi Potential Trade Candidate: Frank Seravalli
As speculated by NHL Insider Frank Seravalli in his latest article regarding potential trade targets, he names Rossi as number three on the list, only behind JJ Peterka and Chris Kreider and ahead of names like Bowen Byram.
There's a good reason for it too, as Rossi's future with the Wild seems murky at best:
Rossi himself seemed to cast some doubt on his future in the State of Hockey at his season-ending press conference, saying: «I don't know. We'll see.»
He's due for a big raise and the question is: Do the Wild want to pay him? It's a tough spot because Minnesota could use more center depth, not less, but Rossi slid to the fourth line in the playoffs.
But GM Bill Guerin's original first-round pick in Minnesota would command a price in a thin center market - and perhaps he could swing a deal much like the one for the last RFA they chose to move on from in Kevin Fiala.
He's due for a big raise and the question is: Do the Wild want to pay him? It's a tough spot because Minnesota could use more center depth, not less, but Rossi slid to the fourth line in the playoffs.
But GM Bill Guerin's original first-round pick in Minnesota would command a price in a thin center market - and perhaps he could swing a deal much like the one for the last RFA they chose to move on from in Kevin Fiala.
It's a very interesting caveat given that Rossi is only 23 and broke out this season, only to be given a lesser role come playoff time (where they were swiftly eliminated) and might have alienated the young forward a bit.
But would Rossi make sense for the Maple Leafs, knowing that he can easily falter?
Marco Rossi: The Perfect Accompaniment To William Nylander
Absolutely he does.
Let's take the whole playoffs out of the picture. Rossi is coming off a 60 point season (24G, 36A). It also saw him breakout on the power play (16 points) and he won nearly 47% of his face-offs.
He's only going to get better, and the fact Minnesota seems to be giving up on him is great news for Toronto.
At only 23, Rossi is on the same age level as Matthew Knies, and the potential to have two superstars in the near future to usher the team into a new era while Matthews and Nylander are older is enticing to say the least.
He only made $863,334 from his entry level deal and is due for a huge raise, but Minnesota might not want to commit long term.
They still need to sign Kirill Kaprizov to a long-term deal, potentially extending David Jiricek to a big deal, and they need to figure out Filip Gustavsson's contract soon as well.
Marco Rossi Trade And Extension
Seravalli compared the return to that of Kevin Fiala, which netted the Wild defenseman Brock Faber and a 2022 1st rounder. While that seems like an impossible task; Toronto could end up getting it done.
Taking Easton Cowan out of the equation, here's a potential deal we could see for Rossi:
To Toronto:
Marco Rossi (C)
To Minnesota:
It seems like an overpayment, but Minnesota makes out like a bandit in this situation.
They get arguably Toronto's best defensive prospect in Chadwick, who is coming off an incredible season with Lethbridge (53 points) while also getting Holinka; a very intriguing prospect with incredible two-way potential at only 19.
The Wild also get two draft picks, including one in this year's draft, and to only give up Rossi for two prospects and two picks is a deal Bill Guerin should seriously consider.
Toronto can then sign him and Knies to long-term deals (Knies at 5x7, Rossi at 5x5) then comfortably have their top-six figured out for a half decade.
So it would be a lot of work, and there's a lot of tinkering to do, but if Toronto was serious about their future; they have a perfect piece just waiting for greener pastures.
| POLL | ||
MAI 27 | 356 ANSWERS Wild Forward Emerges as Potential Top-Six Trade Target for Maple Leafs Do you think Marco Rossi would be a great addition to the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 214 | 60.1 % |
| No | 142 | 39.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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