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Off Season Thread

Panthers Fan 69
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Panthers Fan 69 Grand Master

Panthers Fan 69

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3 hours ago, Anybodyhome said:

The Rossi things isn't going away, either...

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3312416/unfinished-business-7-players-to-watch-in-back-half-of-nhl-offseason

The Wild and Rossi shouldn't be having any trouble hammering out an extension.

Rossi, an RFA turning 24 in September, recorded the second-most points on the team last season (60 in 82 games). The smart, skilled, highly competitive 5-foot-9 Austrian is a homegrown top-six center. Minnesota has $10 million in cap space and no other significant spots to fill to finalize its 2025-26 roster.

Problems lurk below the surface, however. Coach John Hynes demoted Rossi to the fourth line in the playoffs, dropping his nightly usage from 18 minutes in the regular season to 11 in the first-round series loss to Vegas. GM Bill Guerin's top to-do list item at the moment is to lock up Kirill Kaprizov. The superstar winger, who's been eligible for an extension since July 1, is due for Leon Draisaitl-type money (around $14 million average annual value) starting in 2026-27.

Guerin has said there's no rush to sign, trade, or match an offer sheet for Rossi. If he stays, a short-term extension makes sense, since it gives both player and team flexibility. If he leaves, a trade is far more likely than an offer sheet.

Half of the league could use a second-line center, and Rossi still has upside.

The Hurricanes desperately need to upgrade at 2C (Jesperi Kotkaniemi isn't going to cut it) and have plenty of cap space. Ditto for the Sabres, who picked Jack Quinn one spot before Rossi went to the Wild in the 2020 draft. Mammoth bench boss Andre Tourigny coached Rossi in junior, and they don't have as much wiggle room, but trading top-six winger Nick Schmaltz (plus a pick) could make the math work. Guerin wants to make a so-called "hockey trade" here.

Good player, but we already have small guys. We need size. That 2C won’t be filled until into the season I feel. Unless Jarvis or Stank does well.  But we need size or Florida is still gonna own us. 

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