New insider reports indicate that the Minnesota Wild and restricted free agent Marco Rossi aren't close to a deal. 

The Minnesota Wild are reportedly in a tough position with restricted free agent Marco Rossi and according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, as of Sunday, the two camps are not close to a deal and a potential path could see Rossi is no longer in Minnesota. 

Friedman shared on Sunday's edition of his podcast '32 Thoughts' that the plan for Rossi could be to bring him back on a short-term deal and "shine him up" before potentially trading him or extending him to an agreed upon deal. The 23-year-old Austrian centre isn't eligible for arbitration like other restricted free agents and has limited the Wild's options. Friedman noted that there still is a significant amount of time before Minnesota needs to make a pressing decision. 

"They didn't appear close on a contract, it's been reported that Rossi's ask was around [Matt] Boldy's seven times seven," Friedman explained "[Rossi's] a 60 point center, but the Wild don't see it the same way."

Friedman would go on to recount the events of this past postseason for Minnesota, where due to lackluster play, Rossi was moved down the lineup and he didn't like this. Rossi feels like he is a top-six forward. according to Friedman and he wants to be paid like one. The unwillingness to move from both parties has led Friedman to described the situation as "a little bit stuck" and that the team hasn't gotten serious enough offers to move him. 

The belief is that something will get done and that the Wild will want to put him in a situation to succeed as the Wild are looking for postseasn success and without the help of a elite player like Rossi, their chances aren't as great. Minnesota will likely want to "shine up" Rossi and make him appear to be a valuable asset so if they can't agree to a next deal, that they will be able to move him, meaning we can expect a bigger role for Rossi next season. 

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"I don't think a trade was ever really close, I don't think the Wild got anything close to what they were looking for and I think Bill Guerin is honest when he says, I'm not making my team worse," Friedman said about Minnesota GM Bill Guerin's motives "[Guerin] is either getting a player that helps right away, or something I know that will get a player right away."

This could open up the door for a potential play down the road for the Detroit Red Wings. In the same podcast episode, Friedman let it be known that Detroit GM Steve Yzerman doesn't plan on further blocking roster spots with new adds, resulting in shorter term deals with Jams van Riemsdyk and Patrick Kane among others. The Red Wings could look to give some young players serious playing time in the near future and this could entice the Wild.  

We covered in a recent story the close connections Rossi may have with Detroit's second line centre in fellow Austrian Marco Kasper. The pair have played together for Austria and the move could help unlock unforeseen potential with Kasper. The line's chemistry, coupled with possibly Alex DeBrincat on the opposite wing, could really open up Detroit's second line as a lethal second option for offence. 

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This would require more minutes for younger players and impressive results from those players that could entice Minnesota to negoiate a deal where they feel like they can get a impact player that can help them. The Wild offered Rossi to the Buffalo Sabres for forward JJ Peterka and the deal was declined. This is a good sign for Detroit as it may not take as much as expected to land the young centre. 

Rossi is a smaller-sized centre at 5-foot-9 but is a proven performer with numbers improving and rising every year from 40 points through his first full season to 60 last season. At such a young age, he could continue to grow and work with Kasper and give the Red Wings a dynamic duo and Stanley Cup-caliber second line.

One thing we do know is a deal is quite far from getting done and that if we do see Rossi in a Detroit jersey, it won't be for some time but is an exciting prospect to consider and think about as the Red Wings continue their rise.

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