NHL Trade Rumors: Wild's Breakout Rookie Marco Rossi A Trade Candidate

Well, that didn't take long. One successful, breakout season in the NHL, and former first-round draft pick Marco Rossi is already hearing his name in trade rumors. 

According to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, the Wild could look to move the 21-goal scorer for the right return, and say that the chances of Minnesota trading him are "higher than you might think". 

If the Wild could trade Rossi for the same level of high-end prospect, but one who’s bigger and faster, there’s a real chance they’d pull the trigger.

Russo and Smith opine that the Wild were interested in Cutter Gauthier, another top 10 draft pick who was available earlier this season, before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. That would be the type of player the Wild would look to trade Rossi for. 

They speculate that Minnesota sees Danila Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek as their top two centers going forward, and obviously Rossi doesn't fit the mold of a 3rd or 4th line pivot, so as not to waste his talent, a trade would make sense. 

In addition, 19-year-old center Riley Heidt, last year's 2nd-round pick, has been tearing it up in junior (117 points in 66 games this season for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL), and the Wild will be looking to get him some top-six minutes next season. 

Certainly, Russo, who found the net 21 times this year in his first full season, along with 19 assists for 40 points in 16:44 of ice time per night, will be able to bring back a nice return in a trade—preferably a 'heavier' top-six forward.

Photo: David Gonzales-USA TODAY Sports