The Minnesota Wild and Marco Rossi have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $15 million, putting to rest any speculation about Rossi's future with the team. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $5 million.
The contract breaks down as follows: Rossi will earn $4 million in 2025-26, $5 million in 2026-27, and $6 million in 2027-28. At the end of this contract, Rossi will be a restricted free agent (RFA) before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2029. His qualifying offer in 2028 will be $6 million.
Rossi, 23, is coming off a strong season in which he recorded 60 points (24 goals and 36 assists) in 82 games. He ranked second on the Wild in points and third in goals. This performance followed Rossi previously playing with the GCK Lions in Switzerland and later leading the OHL in scoring points with the Ottawa 67’s, racking up 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) in 59 games during the 2019-20 season.
Notably, Rossi reportedly declined a five-year, $25 million offer earlier in the year. This new agreement serves as a bridge deal, positioning Rossi to potentially secure a larger contract when he is 27 years old after the 2027-28 season. It's also been reported that Rossi has spent his offseason focusing on adding muscle.
Despite his regular season success, Rossi's role diminished during the playoffs, going from an average of 18:15 of ice time as the team's primary second-line center to just 11:08 per game as a fourth-line pivot. This led to trade rumors during the offseason, with General Manager Bill Guerin confirming that other teams had inquired about Rossi's availability. The Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks were reportedly among the interested teams.
Guerin stated in July that the team wanted Rossi back and was prepared to match any qualifying offers from other teams, while also noting that the team has a structure in their pay and had Rossi slotted in at a certain level.
With Rossi's contract secured, the Wild have approximately $4.41 million in cap space remaining. The team originally drafted Rossi ninth overall in 2020, hoping he would become a mainstay on the team's top line.
