The Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) announced today that Wild forward Marco Rossi has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

ST. PAUL – The Twin Cities chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA)today announced the nomination of Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The trophy is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Rossi, 22, has played in all 75 games for the Wild this season. He is one of only two Wild players to have done that. In his 75 games, Rossi has recorded 20 goals and 37 points. 

After his draft year Rossi was diagnosed with a rare disease called Myocarditis which is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). The inflammation can reduce the heart's ability to pump blood. 

To put it lightly it's a pretty scary situation for a 19-year-old kid. Rossi was told by doctors that he might never get to play hockey again which was something he had on his mind almost every day following the diagnosis'. 

Rossi wasn’t feeling his absolute best upon joining the Wild back in January of 2021, and claimed to have felt sluggish after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in November of 2020. Just a few weeks prior to camp, Rossi was the captain for Austria at the World Junior Championship, so when he was called prior to his first practice with the Wild and told he was being held out, Rossi didn't know what was going on. 

That was until the Wild told him he had Myocarditis.

“Everything that happened with my heart and stuff, obviously after when your doctor tells you we don’t know if you’re going to play hockey anymore, then of course you start think can I really play hockey again? On the other side, it gives you motivation," Rossi said. "You want to prove everyone wrong and you want to make it. As soon as they gave me the green light, it was important for me, ok, now it’s go time, work hard.

"I know it’s not going to be right away like this I’m here because you need some more games. We lost one year of playing especially that year was important to play a lot of minutes. That first two years was maybe a grind in the AHL, but I think that makes me as a person, as a player, who I am right now.”

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rossi missed the entire 2020-21 season. He played one game for the ZSC Lions in the NL and four for Austria at the World Juniors as the team's captain. After that he was shut down completely. 

After missing an entire season after his draft year and most of the off-season Rossi was at a huge disadvantage. But despite all of that the young center put up 18 goals and 53 points in 63 AHL games and even got in two NHL games the season after he missed the whole year.

His great first season in the AHL earned him a spot on the Wild to start the 2022-23 season. But after struggling in the first 16 games of the season with only one assist, Rossi was sent down to Iowa to play in the AHL. 

In 53 AHL games after the demotion, Rossi notched 16 goals and 51 points and was called up at the end of the season to play in three games when the Wild were without Joel Eriksson Ek. 

Despite being on the team's roster and without Eriksson Ek, Rossi sat out game one of the playoffs against the Dallas Stars. Ryan Hartman got hurt in that game and missed game two. Instead of going with Rossi to play in the top six, or even the lineup, the Wild went with Sam Steel who finished the playoffs with one goal and two points in five games and had Rossi sit out the whole playoffs.

After a struggling season, Rossi decided to stay in Minnesota in the offseason and train with the team's staff. This decision grew trust within the organization and did Rossi wonders. 

Although, he had to miss his sister's wedding. Rossi was so dedicated to being a better player and dedicated to have a better season the following year, that he stayed in Minnesota to train and not attend his sister's wedding. 

"Yeah, everyone knows my history. Wasn't really easy coming back and then especially last summer to make the decision to stay here wasn't like a big decision that I was like, ‘Okay, I have to stay here.’ It was nice because my goal is to be an NHL player. And so I know what I have to do to be an NHL player," Rossi said. "So like I said, I had a big summer here with all the guys here. 

"Matt Harder and Andy ness did a great job with me, and I think that helped me a lot. That made the decision pretty easy to stay here and I had a really good summer here, felt really good and it gave me a lot of confidence going into the season."

It's not easy to leave your family behind in Austria while you are just training in Minnesota months before the NHL season would start. But Rossi was committed to his goal of not only becoming an NHL player, but a good one. 

"They knew that months before. It went pretty quick with their marriage, and their wedding, and they were like, Okay, we're gonna marry in two weeks, and it was just so busy, like OK, I’ve got to stay, but they all understand," Rossi said on missing his sister Marielle's wedding. 

Rossi impressed the Wild in camp and opened the season on the team's third line with Marcus Foligno and Freddy Gaudreau. Now, just three years after doctor's told him he may never play hockey again, Rossi has 20 goals and 37 points in 75 games in his first full NHL season and is one of two Wild players to have played in every game this year.

The 5-foot-9 center could've mailed it in and said well shoot I have a heart condition that may never allow me to play the game I love ever again. But he didn't stop working his butt off to get to the moment he is in today. 

“I’ve been working my whole life for that. It’s not like after one decision I’m going to give up on myself," Rossi said. "There’s so many people who are supporting me and are having my back. There’s no quit in myself. I always want to keep going because even after that season I’m probably going to be happy but maybe for one day and then next day I say OK I want to be much better.”

Rossi is happy he is in the NHL after what happened to him not long ago but he still believes there is more in him and wants to continue to grow into an NHL player who can score 30 goals in the NHL as a center. Which is something the Wild have seen happen just three times in their 24 year history. Eric Staal did it once in 2017-18, Hartman in 2021-22, and Eriksson Ek this season. 

“I think it’s just the beginning because I know how good I am. I know my confidence and stuff. Deep down I’m the best who knows myself the best, and I know. I know much more," Rossi said. "Of course 20 goals is nice, but next year I want to get more, 30 goals, even more. That’s my goal and always keep climbing, getting better, and I’m a guy who’s never really happy for myself. I want to get better and improve myself and yeah I think this summer will be huge for me again and of course another big season and can’t wait.”

But is Rossi proud of his accomplishments? 

“There was always some days I pray a lot, I’m a big believer, and of course I’m always thankful for where I am right now because in that moment two or three years ago, I was wishing for that moment," Rossi said. "But I always say I’m maybe happy for a day and then the next day it’s like I want to get better. There were always some days where I appreciate and everything but then, yeah.”

It's been quite the journey for Rossi. From the thought of never playing hockey again to now a 20-goal scoring center on a Wild team that has never had a rich history of elite centers, Rossi deserves this nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and arguably should win it. 

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