fcpremix88
Registered User
He was the #1 center against the 2015 Blackhawks. He wasn’t the problem.
2024-2025 Blues Trade Proposals Thread.
- Thread starter simon IC
- Start date
bleedblue1223
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2011
- 51,940
- 18,133
They did get to the Finals with his as a top 6 C, but they lost to Chicago.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
Tyler Johnson is very thick for a short fella. Rossi is short and is not well-built.
Tyler Johnson, Derek Roy, there’s little guys that make some playoff noise every so often, and the league goes temporarily crazy about how the league is changing and short dudes are the future. But when you look at their careers there’s usually a pretty steep drop off at some point, and it’s usually earlier than age alone would dictate. Not always, but usually. Except in special cases, you’ll get a couple of good playoff runs out of them and then a whole lotta nothin. The trick is to trade them while they still have value.
I don’t remember a whole lot about Rossi except that he was dominant in his draft year. Would he fit here, idk. We’re amassing a strong stable of snipers though, and a quick dude that can distribute might work.
I don’t remember a whole lot about Rossi except that he was dominant in his draft year. Would he fit here, idk. We’re amassing a strong stable of snipers though, and a quick dude that can distribute might work.
LetsGoBooze
Trade Kyrou in a hockey trade!
- Jan 16, 2012
- 2,378
- 2,138
I think we can find better fits, and i highly doubt Minnesota will trade him in division. But more importantly, moving a bunch of assets for Rossi AND having to sign him to a "best case scenario" deal isn't the path i want to take. If he doesn't live up to the contract, that could massively disrupt our re-tool. Don't hate the player, just don't like the situation/scenario. I'll pass.
Buffalo has a ton of guys i'd be interested in, i hope they're our dance partner.
Buffalo has a ton of guys i'd be interested in, i hope they're our dance partner.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
Rossi would be a good bridge. No more. He’d help with regular season positioning for the playoffs. He’d be gone by the time we are really ready to win the Cup again. Maybe?
Red flag right there. Sorry, no interest whatsoever in Rossi.
STL fan in MN
Registered User
- Aug 16, 2007
- 7,432
- 6,436
When exactly do we think this Cup window will be? If the Blues want to utilize Binnington, they better try to open up that window sooner rather than later. I see no reason to sign or trade for guys that are just a bridge. Especially ones demanding 7 year contracts.
Louie the Blue
Because it's a trap
- Jul 27, 2010
- 4,946
- 3,454
I think it opens either in 2026-2027 or 2027-2028. That will give Neighbours, Bolduc, Snuggy more time to progress in addition to Broberg and Holloway. Binnington, Faulk, and Krug contracts will be near the end of expiring. Leddy will be expired after this upcoming season.
I view a bridge to be someone on a 2-3 year deal, as Dvorsky should hopefully be ready in 2027-2028 for a meaningful role and Stenberg and Lindstein should be as well.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
I think he’s got 4 rfa years left.
I personally consider Kaprisov a top 10 skater and he’s about the same size as Rossi. I like Rossi’s body type apart from his height. Kaprisov is a bit thicker but they both have sturdy cores and big thighs.
I wouldn’t have any problem with his size, so long as we didn’t go tiny in the bottom 6. He’s a top 10 pick and producing like one.
I’d prefer Rossi over Zegras for sure, and perhaps Zegras being available reduces Rossi’s price. I wouldn’t be interested in paying the wild a fair price. They can sign their draft pick who is doing well. If they don’t want to that’s their problem, not making it mine. I’d be okay giving the player a chunk of cap for all those rfa years plus a few ufa years.
The fact that we haven't drafted a goalie since 2020 tells me that we're either comfortable with our prospects taking over for Binner after his contract is up (i.e. some combo of Hofer, Ellis, and Zherenko), or we're planning on riding Binner until the wheels fall off. I don't think making panic moves based on the potential longevity of Binner's career is a smart move either way.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
Kaprisov is built like a brick shit house.
Anyway, I think STL MN is right. We can’t do Rossi.
We don’t have kaprisov in nhl gear at 23 comparison - but I think we’ll see the same same ability to play bigger than the body out of Rossi - he looks better (smarter, creative) to me than Debrincat looked or than Stankoven looks. I do maybe agree with you all’s side of the argument more than mine, I just wouldn’t be upset if it happened - and I’m kinda picky. I wouldn’t charge into the offseason with Rossi as my top objective, but if the wild want to make a mistake maybe I’d be okay helping them do that.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
STL fan in MN
Registered User
- Aug 16, 2007
- 7,432
- 6,436
Where did I advocate for a panic move? To me, trading for a 5’9” Rossi and then signing him for 7 years would be the panic move.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
Is it a 'small centers don't succeed in the NHL' thing or 'smaller players get pushed to wing while they're younger, so smaller guys don't typically play C professionally in the first place' thing? Chicken or Egg, I guess.
I think the real question is why is Rossi being moved in the first place. Do Evason and Guerin just have it out for the kid, or are there legitimate holes in his game? In the Wild games I caught this year, Rossi had some sweet dishes (regardless of linemate) and used his positioning well to help win board battles. He wasn't leveling dudes on the half wall but I also didn't see him totally ragdolled either. In short, he looked like a talented player who I would have rather had at 2/3 C than Sunny 10 times out of 10.
I'm of the opinion that Rossi is worth 19th overall +, even if it takes a 7 x 7. With Dvorsky in the wings, Homeboy can just shift to wing if for some reason he can't stick at center without Kaprisov (though he did well without him last year). You'd probably have to switch lines around, as Rossi has a much different skillset than Schenn, but if this is a first + for Rossi deal, this would be a wagon:
Neighbors-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Rossi-Snuggy
Bolduc-Schenn-Buch
or some combo of that. That is a monster top 9.
I think the real question is why is Rossi being moved in the first place. Do Evason and Guerin just have it out for the kid, or are there legitimate holes in his game? In the Wild games I caught this year, Rossi had some sweet dishes (regardless of linemate) and used his positioning well to help win board battles. He wasn't leveling dudes on the half wall but I also didn't see him totally ragdolled either. In short, he looked like a talented player who I would have rather had at 2/3 C than Sunny 10 times out of 10.
I'm of the opinion that Rossi is worth 19th overall +, even if it takes a 7 x 7. With Dvorsky in the wings, Homeboy can just shift to wing if for some reason he can't stick at center without Kaprisov (though he did well without him last year). You'd probably have to switch lines around, as Rossi has a much different skillset than Schenn, but if this is a first + for Rossi deal, this would be a wagon:
Neighbors-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Rossi-Snuggy
Bolduc-Schenn-Buch
or some combo of that. That is a monster top 9.
Well, you made it sound like there is a sense of urgency in pushing to open a window at legit contention based on Binnington's contract being up in two years. E.g.
If the Blues don't do xyz, something terrible (Binner not being here) will happen. So what then should we do? We better do something, or else. To me, that sounds like panic.
FWIW, I don't think signing Rossi alone puts us in the neighborhood of contention. We're not winning a 7-game series against Florida because Rossi is our 2C next year. I do think he's an obvious improvement over any internal option we have at the moment, though. He's far from an ideal fit, but there isn't a very long list of those guys to pick from either.
ChicagoBlues
See
- Oct 24, 2006
- 15,035
- 8,623
A Real Barn Burner
Registered User
- Apr 25, 2016
- 2,938
- 4,375
I genuinely question why Rossi, despite his size disadvantage, is being offered for such a low price as an RFA 2C. This price is even below the compensation levels offered in an RFA offer sheet. Considering the current demand for centers, something seems amiss. I’m not convinced by the rumored ask.
However, if that’s the price and our pro scouts and doctors are okay with it, I say go for it even if you’re giving him a 7x7 contract. With four years of restricted free agency control, he won’t have any trade protection during that time, even if he negotiates for it. You could start the trade protection during his UFA years, like Kyrou. At any point in the next four years, you can trade him or move him to the wing. A 7x7 contract is likely to be one or two million dollars less than what top six 60 point forwards will be making four years from now, considering the increasing cap. Even if he doesn’t work out as a center in the playoffs, having a winger who can fill in at center during injuries or having two players who can take draws during tight games is a huge utility.
However, if that’s the price and our pro scouts and doctors are okay with it, I say go for it even if you’re giving him a 7x7 contract. With four years of restricted free agency control, he won’t have any trade protection during that time, even if he negotiates for it. You could start the trade protection during his UFA years, like Kyrou. At any point in the next four years, you can trade him or move him to the wing. A 7x7 contract is likely to be one or two million dollars less than what top six 60 point forwards will be making four years from now, considering the increasing cap. Even if he doesn’t work out as a center in the playoffs, having a winger who can fill in at center during injuries or having two players who can take draws during tight games is a huge utility.
Wyatt Johnston has the 4 critical inches on Rossi (but is listed at a lighter weight - Rossi got the booty of a hockey player).
Wyatt is great.
He just finished the playoffs -18. They only played 17 games. I wonder what the record is.
2 5v5 goals and 2 5v5 assists from him.
Really bad.
The problem is that he’s 22. Not that he’s bad. He’s really good - it’s not reasonable to expect him to win the physical battles - just not going to happen for 99% of ~20-23 year olds. In most cases their opposition will have 5, 10, 15 years of nonstop professional training, eating, conditioning against their 0-2. The opponents bodies are more performant because that’s how our species works. Rossi is similarly young. I wouldn’t use Rossi or Wyatt’s present day playoff output as a metric for evaluating the coming rfa contract or whether they’re desirable.
I’m guessing Dallas is quite pleased with the 42 mil they gave Wyatt. Seems like it Will be an absolute steal later on - 2 or 3 years of a monster discount. Rossi could be the same if you buy 2 ufa years today. (Assumption that he performs. I’m not here to predict that. People watch skaters every day have infinitely better opinions. I just look at how contracts go and try to zoom out).
The way I evaluate toughness is simple:
It’s games played.
Rossi has 2 82 game seasons in a row, icetime increasing each and above 16 atoi for the last 164 nhl matches.
He’s good in my book. For his age - those results are outstanding.
He really had a great year. Despite a huge increase in icetime his production rates increased - a runner going faster over a longer distance. Good time to ask for money.
Marty St Louis won 2 harts and a cup, has his number retired. I always liked him and he’s why I don’t really care about size. It’s not a disqualifier. St. Louis has outsized thighs and brains. I don’t want a small team but I’m okay with a small player if he’s like that. Rossi seems to have the lower body and the intelligence to me.
Wyatt is great.
He just finished the playoffs -18. They only played 17 games. I wonder what the record is.
2 5v5 goals and 2 5v5 assists from him.
Really bad.
The problem is that he’s 22. Not that he’s bad. He’s really good - it’s not reasonable to expect him to win the physical battles - just not going to happen for 99% of ~20-23 year olds. In most cases their opposition will have 5, 10, 15 years of nonstop professional training, eating, conditioning against their 0-2. The opponents bodies are more performant because that’s how our species works. Rossi is similarly young. I wouldn’t use Rossi or Wyatt’s present day playoff output as a metric for evaluating the coming rfa contract or whether they’re desirable.
I’m guessing Dallas is quite pleased with the 42 mil they gave Wyatt. Seems like it Will be an absolute steal later on - 2 or 3 years of a monster discount. Rossi could be the same if you buy 2 ufa years today. (Assumption that he performs. I’m not here to predict that. People watch skaters every day have infinitely better opinions. I just look at how contracts go and try to zoom out).
The way I evaluate toughness is simple:
It’s games played.
Rossi has 2 82 game seasons in a row, icetime increasing each and above 16 atoi for the last 164 nhl matches.
He’s good in my book. For his age - those results are outstanding.
He really had a great year. Despite a huge increase in icetime his production rates increased - a runner going faster over a longer distance. Good time to ask for money.
Marty St Louis won 2 harts and a cup, has his number retired. I always liked him and he’s why I don’t really care about size. It’s not a disqualifier. St. Louis has outsized thighs and brains. I don’t want a small team but I’m okay with a small player if he’s like that. Rossi seems to have the lower body and the intelligence to me.
Last edited:
So a fatty?
I don't want a short bastard because the last short bastard we had was Krug and we saw how much everyone hated him and we saw how he was so easily out muscled. I'm not saying a 2C needs to be huge but I would like someone around 6ft and 200lb.
