23-Year-Old Star On the Trade Market: Penguins Could Build a Trade Package

There is some backward thinking going on in the Minnesota Wild front office. The team is mulling trading Marco Rossi, a top-six center the franchise developed, of which it doesn't have a plethora, notwithstanding his solid play.

Rossi has completed a 60-point season, his second full year in the NHL, and has had back-to-back 20-goal years. His future in Minnesota, however, is uncertain.

The rumor mill is humming loudly enough that sites like Bleacher Report are taking stabs at potential trade destinations for Rossi. None of them are palatable to Wild fans, but one possible destination is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Why the potential move? The Wild have a salary cap situation brewing, notably with a new deal for Kirill Kaprizov on the horizon.

It seems the front office doesn't want to commit significant dollars to Rossi, a player they reportedly aren't entirely convinced about. But that hesitation seems unnecessary, as Rossi has already proven himself.

Meanwhile, teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins are taking notice. Trying to get younger and faster, and armed with draft picks, the Penguins wouldn't have any issue putting together a solid trade proposal.

Recently, on the podcast 'Locked on Penguins', Patrick, Hunter, and Kelsey Surmacz of 'The Hockey News' discussed Rossi being the perfect fit in Pittsburgh.

His skill set would fill the team's needs for scoring, speed, and the youth movement that Dubas craves, immediately. Trading Rossi would be a mistake for Minnesota, but a pleasant surprise for Pittsburgh.