The Minnesota Wild and RFA center Marco Rossi agreed on a three-year deal with an average annual value of $5 million on Friday. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported [https://x.com/RussoHockey/status/1958918745058861470] that Rossi will earn $4 million in his first year, $5 million in the following season and $6 million in the final year of the bridge deal. Stephen Kerr, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello grade the Minnesota Wild's off-season. This new contract for Rossi [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/report-minnesota-wild-re-sign-forward-marco-rossi-to-a-three-year-deal] comes after a career year, a change in ice time, months of negotiations and trade rumors. Rossi took a big step last season with the Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild]. In all 82 games, he scored 24 goals and recorded 36 assists for 60 points in the regular season, ranking second on the team behind left winger Matt Boldy’s 73 points. Rossi spent much of the season on the top line with Mats Zuccarello on the right side and either Kirill Kaprizov or Boldy on the left. He averaged 18:15 of ice time in the regular season. That changed drastically in the playoffs, when Rossi averaged 11:08 of ice time in Minnesota’s first-round matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights]. In six games, he recorded two goals, one helper and six penalty minutes. In late July, Russo reported that Rossi and the Wild haven’t talked since June [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6515489/2025/07/28/wild-burning-questions-kaprizov-rossi/], meaning there were limited negotiation talks throughout the off-season. In June, Rossi’s agent, Ian Pulver, told Russo the player’s camp and the team weren’t seeing eye to eye. “There clearly is a difference of opinion with respect to Marco’s value,” Pulver told Russo. “We will continue in good faith to engage the Wild to attempt to reach resolution. We understand that (Wild GM Bill Guerin) likes Marco, but for how much? And in what role going forward? (That) is the subject of great debate.” Furthermore, The Athletic reported that Minnesota received a trade offer for Rossi [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6438347/2025/06/19/wild-trade-tiers-offseason/] by the Vancouver Canucks, in exchange for the 15th pick ahead of the 2025 draft. The Canucks went on to select Braeden Cootes. Guerin said in late June that the team isn't rebuilding and wants to win now, and Rossi can help do that. "Marco is a really good player," Guerin told Fox 9 Sports on June 22 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/the-narrative-out-there-is-that-we-are-dying-to-trade-him-that-s-not-the-case-at-all-wild-gm-bill-guerin-shines-light-on-marco-rossi-situation]. "He’s coming off a great year. He’s young. He’s a center. There is a lot of value to what he brings." Marco Rossi: ‘Just Thankful to be Alive’ [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTg1MDUxMTI5NjUwOTQ3NDE3/usatsi_16910515.jpg] Marco Rossi: ‘Just Thankful to be Alive’ Complications from COVID-19 put Rossi’s career – and his life – in jeopardy. He’s back with a new perspective. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/marco-rossi-just-thankful-to-be-alive] The speculation and rumors can now go away for now with Rossi’s signing. Rossi becomes the fourth-highest-paid forward on the Wild, just behind center Joel Eriksson Ek’s $5.25 million. The 23-year-old signed his contract just one day after Frank Nazar agreed to a seven-year deal worth $6.59 million annually. The circumstances are slightly different as Rossi is a couple of years older than Nazar, but both young centers are coming off their entry-level contracts. 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.
