Wild centre Marco Rossi could be traded and checks all the boxes for Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames may have a new centre target to make a move for as they prepare to head into the offseason.
It’s no secret that the Flames need to improve down the middle of the ice, with the main goal for this organization being to find a centreman who can play top-six minutes.
GM Craig Conroy did address the organization’s centre depth in January, acquiring Morgan Frost, as well as winger Joel Farabee, in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. That said, Frost — while a skilled player — isn’t the gamebreaker down the middle that the Flames are still in search of. Finding such players is no easy task, though there may be one available this summer.
Marco Rossi, a player who has been discussed as a potential trade target for the Flames in the past, doesn’t seem to be happy in his current role with the Minnesota Wild.
Despite recording 24 goals and 60 points this season, the 2020 ninth overall pick found himself centring the fourth line during the Wild’s first-round series versus the Vegas Golden Knights and voiced his displeasure in his deployment during his season-ending media availability.
“I showed all year long how good I am,” Rossi said. “From 40 points to 60 points this year, anyone who knows me knows [I’m] always going up and I always improve, especially with my work ethic. I have no doubt that I’m for sure a top-six guy.”
Marco Rossi says he met with John Hynes about his 4th line role in the playoffs, and says he was disappointed but respects the decision. He's a RFA this summer.
"I have no doubt I am for sure a top-6 guy."@kare11 #MNWild pic.twitter.com/3PN1OcsnCy
— J.T. Messinger (@JTMessinger) May 4, 2025
Rossi is still just 23 years old, indicating he isn’t anywhere close to reaching his ceiling yet. He is small at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds, but has an extremely high skill level which suggests he could develop into a legitimate first-line centre.
Despite Rossi’s continued improvement during his time with the Wild organization, there have been rumblings for several years now that he may be traded. His latest comments at his exit interview have increased that speculation tenfold.
Set to become a restricted free agent, AFP Analytics is projecting that if Rossi signs a long-term deal, it will be a seven-year extension worth roughly $7.4 million per season. If he were to agree to a bridge deal instead, they are estimating it to be a two-year contract with a cap hit of $4.55 million.
Conroy has done an excellent job at accruing cap space in his time as the Flames GM, which sets themselves up very nicely to sign Rossi to a long-term deal should they see a fit. Frankly, it’s hard not to see one, as he checks off several needs for the organization, and fits perfectly into their rebuilding timeline.