NHL Rumor Mill – August 22, 2025
Check out the latest on Marco Rossi and Mason McTavish in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
TSN: cited a report by Michael Russo of The Athletic claiming there’s been “significant progress” toward a potential new contract for Marco Rossi. The 23-year-old Minnesota Wild center is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract.
Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi (NHL Images)
Russo speculates an agreement between Rossi and the Wild could be announced in the coming days. He believes it will be a bridge contract.
RG.ORG: James Murphy cited two NHL sources claiming the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken recently revisited their interest in Rossi to see where things stand in his contract talks with the Wild.
Neither source provided specifics as to the Wild’s asking price for Rossi. Both suggested one target could be Kraken winger Jared McCann, who is entering the fourth year of a five-year contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s been the subject of trade speculation since last season. It was reported that his camp sought a long-term deal between $6 million and $7 million annually, while the Wild reportedly weren’t willing to go much higher than $5 million on a short-term deal.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin never ruled out trading Rossi, but he consistently stated his preference is to sign the young center. Based on Russo’s report, the latter is more likely to happen.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports the Anaheim Ducks want to re-sign Mason McTavish. Like Rossi, the 22-year-old center is a restricted free agent coming off his ELC and has been the subject of growing trade speculation this summer.
Stephens claims the Ducks intend to keep McTavish, seeing him as an important part of their lineup. He indicated the two sides have gone back and forth on short and long-term proposals. The Ducks may not wish to go to the maximum eight-year deal, but they’re not just looking at a bridge deal.
There’s been lots of speculation about which teams need a second-line center and possible trade destinations for McTavish. Stephens believes teams have asked Ducks GM Verbeek about him.
“You know who else needs a second-line center? Anaheim,” replied Stephens. “And it has one that’s 22 and on the rise with a strong finishing kick to last season.” He believes Verbeek sees McTavish as a core player more than he did former Ducks Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first report I’ve seen this summer from a Ducks beat writer on the status of McTavish’s contract negotiations. All the trade speculation about the young center has come from pundits in other NHL cities.
Stephens pointed out that Verbeek has a reputation as a tough negotiator, which would explain why this situation hasn’t been resolved yet. He also noted that there is still plenty of time for the two sides to get a deal done before training camp opens in mid-September.
We haven’t heard anything from the McTavish camp yet, but that could be because they’d prefer not to discuss those negotiations with the media.
Frank Nazar 21yo 5’10 180, 56 nhl games played $6.6mx7
Little Marco Rossi 24y/0 5’9 195, 185 nhl games asking for $7mx7 is too much.
Mason McTavish 22y/o 6’1 220, 229 nhl games asking for 7yr x ? is too much.
Why would either be ready to settle for less now?
yup great point. I like Nazar but thats a huge gamble..
Nazar contract puts Anaheim and Minnesota in a tough position.What was Chicago thinking?
Nazar would’ve got less on a bridge. New deal doesn’t have any trade protection until 6th year. Not sure why they’d commit long term to a kid with 56 games under his belt. Must be pretty confident in him. Or they just don’t know what else to do with all their cap space.
I don’t see any issue with the Frankie Nazar deal. If he fails as a high end points producer, he has plenty of two way game. Not many guys as fast in on the forecheck If with the continuing influx of young fast kiddies around him, if he takes off as an offensive producer in 2025-26, he would garnish more of that Cap and this was a two sided statement that both player & team are committed.
I didn’t see Rossi or Mctavish blowing the nets off in the World’s…They both wish they played at the rcognition and speed Lil Frankie does.
Oh, I think I finally have a true initital 2026 Draft board. Now to strat on the profiles
https://www.lines.com/nhl/drafts/2026
Probably thinking we got our guy at the price we want AND put our rivals in a tough position. Win win.
I don’t watch either of these players with any regularity, so not much to add. But kinda with Slick & Bill. The Hawks obviously believe in him, and made a bet on him. Could turn out to be great for the team, or not.
Bill’s take on him lines up with what I have read, and similar on Rossi. The Wild aren’t happy with his 200′ game and which is why he got his minutes cut to 11 in the playoffs. No coach in the NHL does that, in the playoffs, if he didn’t think it would help him win and thought other guys gave him a better chance to do that. That is very, very, telling.
Doesn’t mean Rossie won’t get there, but the Wild have concerns that he may not.
Rossi gets a chance to earn it on the next one, and as HF30 notes, he will have the all leverage if he does.
Fully agree both Rossi and McTavish are worth 8 million per on a long term deal and they ought to be given the deals that they are wanting or trade them to a team that will.
The reason Nazar got the contract he did is because Bedard has publicly expressed frustration at continued losing in Chicago. While the Blackhawks have a highly rated prospect pool, have a look at their current roster. Without Bedard who would pay to see the Hawks? This was a salve to Bedard, and by extension to their fans.
Nazar’s contract may influence other bargaining but it is a distortion caused by the Hawks’ circumstance.
Nazar’s contract can be bought out when he is up to 26yo (maybe 27) at 1/3 of the value. So there is an out if he is a bust.
Rossi signed for 3 years at $5 mil per off the cap, at the end of which he’s a RFA again. Minnesota is now commited to 23 (14F 7D 2G) with $4,411,835 left in cap space.
Rossi signed $5mx3
At which point Rossi will probably have all the leverage.
Wild can give him a QO of minimum $6m for a max of 1 year.
He can opt out and choose arbitration, which will probably be a big windfall for him.
Can always trade him in next 3 years.
Rossi the loser here!
Sr,
I seem to recall the Bruins beat Swayman at arbitration and when it was time to extend, Swayman forced Sweeney’s hand and the successful platoon was gone supposedly on account of bitter negotiations.
We’ll see who the loser is over time.
Bingo!
Knowing Guerin he will be traded before his next contract,which is what Boston should have done with Swayman.
Florida just went a bit deeper over the cap at $4,500,000 with the signing of 27 y/o UFA C
Luke Kunin for 1 year at $775,000. Last season in 75gp with SJ & Columbus he had 11g 7a 18pts at a cost of $2,750,000 off the cap.
Matty out till January and Luke is the replacement grit and agitator!
Tkachuk – as I predicted a month or so ago – has had his surgery — just before the opening of camps to make sure his cap covers their overflow for a good chunk of the season
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/matthew-tkachuk-has-finally-undergone-surgery-he-will-miss-several-months-of-action/ar-AA1L2UtJ?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=b64eafa5fbf64b94ecc0f26e93f3c197&ei=51
Verbeek has to also be thinking that he has to resign Leo Carlsson next year. If he overpays McTavish, then he’ll quickly find himself with salary cap problems quickly. Plus Gauthier, LaCombe, Minty, and Zellweger will need new deals in the future.
Tkachuk will be ready in time for the Olympics . Not saying just saying
I heard 3-6 month recovery timeline . How convenient .
He may be back in January only to knock some rust off before the big Feb tournament .