Wild Assures Marco Rossi: 3 Years and $15 Million

The Minnesota Wild have reached an agreement with Marco Rossi, extending his contract for three years and $15 million. This agreement ends speculation about the center’s future with the team. The contract implies a $5 million impact on the salary cap. Rossi, 23, was finishing his entry-level contract after being selected ninth overall 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 represent 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 was second in team points, behind Matt Boldy (73), and third in goals, after Boldy (27) and Kirill Kaprizov (25). However, the young center’s future in Minnesota was uncertain heading into restricted free agency this summer.

His production dipped a bit at the end of last season, but he was still a good player.

Bill Guerin, Minnesota General Manager

Rossi’s name was mentioned in trade rumors during the past season’s deadline and in the preseason, as the Wild were not convinced to make a long-term commitment to him for the salary Rossi was seeking. Rossi didn’t have much leverage as a restricted free agent. Guerin said he would match any offer Rossi signed. Although extending negotiations into training camp was a possibility, the sides agreed to a three-year bridge contract for the free agent.

He has shown steady progress. He went through a lot as a young player. He’s just getting started, and I think this three-year contract gives him a good platform to be the player he can be.

Bill Guerin, General Manager of Minnesota

The Wild finished fourth in the Central Division last season with 97 points, losing in six games against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. The next step for Guerin, who is also the general manager of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team for 2026, is to try to extend the contract of Kaprizov, his 28-year-old star who is entering the final year of his contract in Minnesota.