It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re still waiting for training camps to start a month from now. However, the pressure is starting to ramp up to get restricted free agents under contract. General managers have been working hard to make these deals happen. There’s some uncertainty on if these deals are going to get done before the start of camp. It’s possible that we could see a trade or two for some of these RFAs.
One team that faces a tough decision with an RFA is the Minnesota Wild. This edition of NHL rumours deals with an update on one name that has been a major question mark this off-season.
All NHl rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Latest on Minnesota Wild RFA Forward
Rumour: Frank Seravalli was on Bleacher Report’s YouTube channel to discuss the latest with RFA forward Marco Rossi. The Austrian and management have been at a stalemate when it comes to contract talks.
Analysis: Rossi has been in the news as much as Kirill Kaprizov when it comes to the Wild. The young forward has been wanting a deal similar to what Matt Boldy has. Boldy signed a seven-year pact worth $7 million in an average cap hit.
Seravalli said the long-term projection of seven years and $7.4 won’t happen. Minnesota General Manager Bill Guerin doesn’t seem to be interested in those type of large numbers or that big of a monetary commitment according to Seravalli. Rossi has been a subject of our NHL rumours a number of times and that’s unlikely to change until a deal is reached.
One wonders what’s the next move for both sides. In a summer where there was plenty of buzz regarding offer sheets, none have happened so far. Seravalli mentions there’s going to have to be a reckoning between the two sides at some point in order to move forward.
What It Means
The Wild could try to deal Rossi to preserve cap space, which would likely be allocated to Kaprizov’s looming extension. Rossi has plenty of skill and potential. However, that didn’t translate for a lot of ice time from head coach John Hynes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was pretty much in the bottom-six during the playoffs.
Despite this, his production is too much for the Wild to ignore. Seravalli said that the two sides are going to have to get on the same page in the near future. This begs the question of what the next deal for Rossi.
The insider said that a bridge deal could be the best solution for the two sides at this points. Seravalli projected a two-year deal with an average salary cap hit of $6 million might be in the cards. This deal would punt the situation down the road for a couple years. However, it could be a chance for Rossi to prove that he’s worth a larger investment.
We could see a motivated Rossi want to show management that he’s deserving of a big-money deal. However, the contract needs to get sorted out first.
Main photo by: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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