Speculation about Marco Rossi's future arose following the Minnesota Wild's first-round playoff exit.
The 23-year-old center was the subject of early-season rumors until Wild GM Bill Guerin shot them down last December.
Some observers now wonder where Rossi fits into their long-term plans after spending time on their fourth line late in the season. He's an RFA coming off his entry-level contract and could become an offer-sheet target if extension talks stall with the Wild this summer.
That prompted Pittsburgh Hockey Now's Dan Kingerski to consider the possibility of the Penguins acquiring Rossi during the off-season.
Kingerski believes the young Wild center would fit in well with the retooling Penguins. Evgeni Malkin is expected to retire at the end of next season, leaving a massive hole at the second-line center position.
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has ruled out signing UFAs to long-term contracts, preferring to acquire RFAs through trades rather than offer sheets. Kingerski acknowledged it could take a healthy return from the Penguins, like the Rangers' 2026 first-round pick (lottery protected) or a top-line veteran winger, such as Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell.
The Penguins won't be the only club interested in Rossi if the Wild peddle him this summer. Teams seeking a second-line center include the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, Noah Cates of the Flyers could become another center of interest in this summer's trade market.
The 26-year-old Cates is an RFA this summer and a year away from UFA eligibility. Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco believes Cates and the Flyers could be heading to arbitration this summer.
Di Marco cited team sources claiming Cates could bet on himself on a one-year deal, taking him up to UFA eligibility. He'd be willing to commit to the Flyers on a long-term deal, but it would be at a price they consider too high. Di Marco indicated that they see him in the range of $ 3.5 million annually on a four- to six-year term.
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