Bruins, Flames Should Pursue Marco Rossi amid Wild Contract Stalemate, NHL Rumors

It's been 30 days since the NHL free agency period began, but not all the big names are off the board quite yet.

Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi, who is a restricted free agent, has been unable to come to an agreement to re-sign with the team that drafted him in 2020.

Per The Athletic's Joe Smith and Michael Russo, Rossi has already turned down a five-year, $25 million deal and a two-year deal at less than $5 million annually.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Rossi is looking for a deal similar to the seven-year, $49 million extension his teammate Matt Boldy signed in 2023.

The 23-year-old center is coming off his best season in the Show, with 60 points (24 goals and 36 assists) in 82 games, up from 40 points in 82 games in 2023–24.

But the Wild haven't demonstrated that they're willing to pay Rossi what he's looking for. Of course, another team targeting Rossi with an offer sheet would force the Wild's hand, but none have come in this free agency period, suggesting that Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin has correctly identified the amount of leverage the team has.

Now, per Smith and Russo, Rossi's camp and the Wild haven't had talks since early June, and the prospect of a trade looms larger. Minnesota has been entertaining trade talks surrounding Rossi since June 2024 and even proposed sending him to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for right wing JJ Peterka, an odd trade the Sabres understandably rejected.

According to The Fourth Period, other teams believed to have interest in Rossi include the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

With the Wild and Rossi at a stalemate, the Bruins and Flames should consider pulling the trigger on a trade for the young center.

Boston is one of the most center-needy teams in the league. Elias Lindholm, who signed with the Bruins as a free agent in July 2024, had 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in 82 games last season. That's not good enough for a player meant to maximize David Pastrnak's talent, nor is Casey Middlestadt playing at a No. 2 center level.

The Bruins need an injection of talent up the middle, and they have the cap space and future draft picks to put a package together. However, Boston should be wary of allowing the Wild to include any of the young players in its pipeline in trade negotiations. For a team toeing the line between a retool and a rebuild, losing young developmental pieces is not a winning strategy.

The Flames are also shaking the tree on center help, especially given that their top line is in danger of unraveling as Nazem Kadri finds himself the subject of trade rumors.

Calgary only managed to score 220 goals last season, the fourth lowest in the league. Meanwhile, the Flames have $15.41 million in cap space to play with, the fifth most of any team, per PuckPedia.

When there is a demonstrated need supported by demonstrated means, trade rumors can solidify quickly.