4 Big Questions for the Minnesota Wild in 2020-21
1. Will we see Marco Rossi in 2020-21?
The Minnesota Wild were dealt a big blow this week when it was announced that prospect forward Marco Rossi will be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
No further detail has been given and there is no timescale on a potential return for the No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, and it does leave the Wild in a bit of a twist.
NEWS: #mnwild forward Marco Rossi is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 10, 2021
After all, Rossi entered the Draft with a lot of hype and GM Bill Guerin took him that high knowing that he has the intangibles and the upside needed to morph into a No.1 center for the Wild one day.
Given that he was considered NHL-ready, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see Rossi nail down a top-six role early and perhaps even cement himself as Minnesota’s new No. 1 center as early as this season.
It is up for grabs with offseason addition Marcus Johansson expected to start the 2020-21 season as the top-line pivot, although it now looks as though that job could be handed to veteran forward Nick Bonino, who is more of a depth scorer than a top-line forward at this stage of his career.
Therefore, being without a legit stud in Marco Rossi for an unspecified amount of time is a huge blow, and it doesn’t help that the Wild are as light down the middle as they are.
Next. Shane Doan back with the Coyotes. dark
It is too early to speculate when Rossi might be back but, if he can get back out on the ice at some point in 2020-21, then that could well act as a saving grace for the Minnesota Wild and be the spark they need to claw their way into the postseason once again.