The Montreal Canadiens and Vancouver Canucks still have a chance to make a big splash this offseason.
NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has the Canadian rivals on the shortlist for teams who may try and trade for Marco Rossi.
Rossi, of the Minnesota Wild, is lining up for a new contract that may be richer than Minnesota wants to pay.
“Minnesota is actively looking to move Rossi, who is believed to be looking for a contract in the $45 million to $50 million range,” Pagnotta writes. “He’s an RFA and Wild GM Bill Guerin has been taking calls on him.”
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It was reported earlier this offseason that the Canucks had made a formal trade offer for Rossi.
The 5-foot-9 Austrian will turn 24 in September, and he was the No. 9 overall pick in 2020. Rossi is coming off a career year. He had 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points.
It was a breakout season on the powerplay for Rossi, too, as he put up seven man-up goals and nine assists. Rossi also improved his faceoff percentage, blocks and hits from the season before.
A number of other teams may also be interested in Rossi, and where he ends up could have big ramifications across the NHL.
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