Minnesota demotes Marco Rossi to AHL

Rossi was selected by the Wild ninth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. The two-way phenom dominated the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in his draft year registering 39 goals and 81 assists for 120 points in 56 games. He also added an additional 22 points during the Ottawa 67’s playoff run. Rossi was awarded the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player, as well as the OHL Top Scorer award and the Eddie Power Trophy for OHL’s most points. Rossi’s major junior dominance earned him an entry-level contract in October 2020. 

Rossi, 21, made his NHL debut last season playing in just two games, resulting in zero points. Rossi of course made a big return to hockey after a medical battle with Myocarditis that sidelined him for nearly the entire 2020-21 season. However, his offensive reign would quickly continue in Iowa, and he recorded 35 assists and 53 points in 63 games during his first AHL campaign. 

This season, he has struggled and Rossi himself said that the early season slump has been “frustrating”. He has been a healthy scratch for four consecutive games and his last game was Nov. 17 where he logged 8:51 of ice time. Through 16 games this season in the NHL, he has one lone assist which came on a Nov. 1 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens. He’s averaged 12:26 of ice time and has won 45.5% of his draws in the faceoff circle. The demotion to the AHL will only boost Rossi’s confidence, he should be back in St. Paul in no time given his successful tenure last year.