After yet another unceremonious first-round exit, the Minnesota Wild have some tough decisions to make. General Manager Bill Guerin’s decision on the future of star players like Kirill Kaprizov and talented hopefuls like Marco Rossi will significantly impact the franchise’s future.
Marco Rossi Decision Could Have a Big Impact on the Minnesota Wild
According to writers for The Athletic, Michael Russo and Joe Smith, Guerin’s actions in the near future will be under heavy scrutiny. Star player Kirill Kaprizov is eligible to negotiate a new contract from July, and Rossi is set to become an RFA if no new deal is signed.
The Wild have some salary cap space since they have freed up the dead cap hits that came from buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Convincing superstar Kirill Kaprizov to sign a long-term extension must be a top priority for the franchise.
“Wild owner Craig Leipold said convincing Kaprizov to stay in Minnesota long-term keeps him up at night and vowed that nobody will be able to pay him more, just by virtue of the fact that the Wild can offer him an eighth year, while 31 other teams would only be able to sign him to a seven-year deal as a free agent on July 1, 2026,” Russo and Smith wrote in Early May.
During the Wild’s end-of-season media session on May 4, Kaprizov was asked about negotiations for a new deal.
“This is my agent’s job. Talk with Billy, but we’ll see. I love everything here. It should be all good. I don’t know what to say. We’ll see,” Kaprizov said. “I know it’s bad when you lose in the first round, but I feel for the future we have a nice team.”
Rossi, meanwhile, has had a mixed season in Minnesota. The 23-year-old was the second-highest point scorer for the team this season, with 60 points in 82 games. However, he refused to sign a new contract midseason. During the playoffs, he was demoted to the fourth line and his ice time sharply reduced.
“Does Rossi, a pending restricted free agent who is offer-sheet eligible, even want to re-sign when it looks like his future in Minnesota isn’t in the top six or on the top power play?” Russo and Smith asked while reporting for The Athletic.
With Evgeni Malkin expected to retire after next season, the Pittsburgh Penguins face a looming void at the second-line center position. Rossi checks all the boxes for GM Kyle Dubas, who has indicated a preference for acquiring young talent rather than signing aging free agents or taking on salary dumps.
