What if Marco Rossi played for the Maple Leafs in 2025-26?

It’s not too early to start thinking about potential RFAs the Toronto Maple Leafs could have in their lineup for the 2025-26 season to help switch up the DNA.

Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi is one of the hot names in the RFA class this summer. While it took Rossi some time to break into the NHL, playing in his first full regular season in 2023-24, the 23-year-old looks like an up-and-coming star. Rossi is coming off his best season in the NHL yet, recording 24 goals and 60 points in 82 games, placing him second on the team behind Matt Boldy’s 73 points. Now, Rossi is poised to receive a payday this offseason.

The only problem? Wild general manager Bill Guerin doesn’t seem to want to give Rossi that payday.

Although Rossi appears to have the makings of a good top-six player in the NHL, he doesn’t fit the mold that Guerin is looking for, as he certainly has a type when it comes to players down the middle. Joel Eriksson Ek is a 6-foot-3 centre who has been the model of two-way stability for the Wild for several years, while Ryan Hartman and Frederick Gaudreau are both 6-feet.

Guerin was USA’s general manager at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and while there were certainly other factors at play, it’s noticeable that he selected several players that stand 6-foot-1 or taller, including Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller and Brock Nelson.

Rossi, on the other hand is 5-foot-9, and although he’s proven it’s not an issue in the NHL, it’s not the type of player Guerin seems to want to build around.

It’s been widely reported that Rossi has been on the trade block since the Wild were eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. During that series, Rossi went from playing on the second line to the fourth line. So, what if he was traded to the Maple Leafs?

For the Maple Leafs, a trade makes the most sense as they don’t have a lot of draft picks to begin with. Here’s what a potential trade package could look like:

Toronto Maple Leafs acquire: Marco Rossi (C)

Minnesota Wild acquire: Nicholas Robertson (LW), Ben Danford (D), David Kampf (C) and 2025 second-round pick (FLA) 2026 third-round pick

If the Maple Leafs brass pulled this trade off, or something in this context, Toronto’s second line centre issues would be resolved. Rossi would fit like a glove into the top six, with the idea of moving John Tavares (widely expected to re-sign) around the lineup.

Rossi has shown the ability to become a problem for other teams, creating space on his own while developing his playmaking ability and a lethal shot.

Of course, the Maple Leafs only make this deal if Rossi agrees to an extension, which could be around the $7 million AAV mark. Not only that, but it would make room for the Maple Leafs, if they wanted to, to not bring back Tavares and instead use that money elsewhere with $25.7 million to upgrade the roster and change the DNA.

Although the Maple Leafs can’t start talking to Rossi until June 30 about an offer sheet, they can jump on it and work to facilitate a trade with the Wild right now. Rossi is a player they should at least be considering in a summer that’s promised to be full of changes.