Marco Rossi and Sidney Crosby (Nick Wosika-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/042bf9ef-7b94-40d5-8594-40c553a16ca3.jpeg] Marco Rossi and Sidney Crosby (Nick Wosika-Imagn Images) Speculation about Marco Rossi's future arose following the Minnesota Wild's first-round playoff exit. The 23-year-old center was the subject of early-season rumors until Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] GM Bill Guerin shot them down last December. Some observers now wonder [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-rumor-roundup-the-latest-on-marco-rossi-patrik-laine-and-drake-batherson] where Rossi fits into their long-term plans after spending time on their fourth line late in the season. He's an RFA coming off his entry-level contract and could become an offer-sheet target if extension talks stall with the Wild this summer. That prompted Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski to consider the possibility [https://pittsburghhockeynow.com/penguins-trade-talk-new-potential-target-more-center-options/] of the Penguins acquiring Rossi during the off-season. Kingerski believes the young Wild center would fit in well with the retooling Penguins. Evgeni Malkin is expected to retire at the end of next season, leaving a massive hole at the second-line center position. Pittsburgh [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] GM Kyle Dubas has ruled out signing UFAs to long-term contracts, preferring to acquire RFAs through trades rather than offer sheets. Kingerski acknowledged it could take a healthy return from the Penguins, like the Rangers' 2026 first-round pick (lottery protected) or a top-line veteran winger, such as Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell. The Penguins won't be the only club interested in Rossi if the Wild peddle him this summer. Teams seeking a second-line center include the Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins], Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres], Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens], New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders], Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] and Vancouver Canucks. Meanwhile, Noah Cates of the Flyers could become another center of interest in this summer's trade market. The 26-year-old Cates is an RFA this summer and a year away from UFA eligibility. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco believes Cates and the Flyers could be heading to arbitration [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/noah-cates-philadelphia-flyers-arbitration-restricted-free-agent] this summer. Di Marco cited team sources claiming Cates could bet on himself on a one-year deal, taking him up to UFA eligibility. He'd be willing to commit to the Flyers on a long-term deal, but it would be at a price they consider too high. Di Marco indicated that they see him in the range of $ 3.5 million annually on a four- to six-year term. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
