He may be 22 - but he is also on the 2nd year of his ELC, so he is a cost controlled asset...I don't see how his age impacts the decision if the financial decision is the same for a team?
This is a fair take and probably the prudent approach - but I just don't see the progress I think we need to see in our D prospects to give me hope.
Rossi's had a great season and looks good going forward, but I imagine if a team is picking in the top-5 (or close to it), they'd be looking for something else.
Forget, top-5, lets look at the current top-11 worst teams in the NHL (outside of a lottery win, the top -10 picks will likely go to 10 of these teams):
San Jose Sharks - Not trading a top-3 pick (may consider trading Pittsburgh's 1st for Rossi + if it conveys, but they're in more of a rebuild)
Chicago Blackhawks - Already have an undersized center in future superstar Bedard, would need a more complementary C to consider moving a top-5 pick
Anaheim Ducks - Have McTavish, Carlsson, Gauthier and Zegras, don't need Rossi
Columbus Blue Jackets - Have Jenner as veteran leader and Fantilli, Sillinger and Johnson. Could be interested in Rossi, but hard to imagine for their 1st
Arizona Coyotes - Could use center help, but they already have Cooley as a young undersized center and would probably be better off using their pick and prospect depth to address center instead.
Ottawa Senators - I don't think they'd move a 1st for Rossi, they have Stutzle, Pinto and Grieg (and Norris) and have other areas of serious need
Montreal Canadiens - Have Suzuki, Dach and Newhook, and would want someone who isn't undersized.
Calgary Flames - Probably the first realistic team on the list (especially if they're leaning more retool), but they have Kadri and Backlund at center and I can't really see Rossi as the guy they'd target (although it wouldn'r be a bad move)
Seattle Kraken - Maybe? Not quite sure what they want to do, but I think they need young D more than young C.
Pittsburgh Penguins - Rossi does not fix what ails them and if they get a top-10 pick then that would be the best piece to address that.
Buffalo Sabres - They're loaded with young forwards and forward prospects, Rossi isn't a target.
These are just my opinions, but I just don't see a fit unless the + is something the Wild shouldn't do. Just keep Rossi, his bounce-back from heart complications has been impressive.