Pittsburgh Penguins Target Being Poached by Conference Rivals

This off-season is going to be a crucial one for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and after making the hire of Dan Muse, it appears as though this is an organization finally dedicated to getting younger and looking towards the future.

Unsurprisingly, that has them linked to many talented young names like K'Andre Miller, Bowen Byram and Mason McTavish, but their ideal target is likely Minnesota Wild star Marco Rossi, who put up career highs across the board with the team in 2024/25.

However, the Wild appear to be far apart on extension talks with the 23-year old, and now, he's become a key trade target for not only the Pittsburgh Penguins, but for many other teams around the NHL.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the Penguins fierce division rival Washington Capitals are also one of those teams expected to kick the tires on Rossi, meaning that there could be a bidding war between these two and many other teams for his services.

This past season, Rossi tallied a career high of 24 goals, and 60 points with a +3 differential on the season, and while his size may be a concern to some at just 5-foot-9, he's proven already that he's got the ability to compete at a high level in the NHL.

Trade talks however hinge on the fact that he likely wants $7 million a season on his next deal, but with so many teams interested, the price for Rossi will likely be met this summer, and if the Penguins want a young star of the future, this may be how they acquire him.