The Minnesota Wild have secured Marco Rossi’s continuity by signing a three-year, $15 million contract. This agreement ends speculation about the center’s future with the team. The contract stipulates a $5 million impact on the salary cap. Rossi, 23 years old, finished his entry-level contract after being selected in the ninth overall position by the Wild in 2020. Rossi is coming off his best season in the NHL, with 24 goals and 36 assists in 82 games. His 60 points represented a 20-point improvement over the 2023-24 season, where Rossi finished sixth in the voting for the NHL Rookie of the Year. Last season, Rossi ranked second in team points, behind Matt Boldy (73), and third in goals, behind Boldy (27) and Kirill Kaprizov (25). The young center’s situation in Minnesota was uncertain heading into restricted free agency.
The name of Rossi was mentioned in trade rumors during the past season’s deadline and in the preseason. The Wild were supposedly not convinced to make a long-term commitment to him for the salary Rossi was requesting. Rossi didn’t have much leverage as a restricted free agent. Guerin stated that he would match any offer Rossi signed. Although extending negotiations until training camp was a possibility, the parties agreed to a three-year bridge contract.His production decreased at the end of last season, but he was still a good player. When you’re in a playoff series, you’re constantly adjusting and you don’t really worry about who’s playing with whom. You worry about winning games.
Bill Guerin, General Manager of Minnesota
Last season, the Wild finished fourth in the Central Division with 97 points, losing in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Now, Guerin, who is also the general manager of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team for 2026, aims to extend the contract of Kaprizov, his 28-year-old star, who is entering the final year of his contract in Minnesota.He has shown steady progress. He went through a lot being a young player. He’s just beginning to show his potential, and I think this three-year contract gives him a good foundation to become the player he can be.
Bill Guerin, General Manager of Minnesota
