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Boston Bruins linked to Wild Forward as trade chatter grows heading into busy offseason

Originally posted on Bruins After Dark | By Jake Donovan | Last updated May 17, 2025 5:42 PM ET

With several forwards already out the door, the Boston Bruins are expected to target a player like Marco Rossi to help reset their offense heading into the 2025–26 season.

Bruins in the market for a young, high-upside center after forward exodus

The Bruins don’t have the luxury of easing into this offseason.

Not after the way things ended—and certainly not after dealing Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, and Justin Brazeau.

That’s a huge chunk of forward depth gone, and it’s left a clear void up the middle.

One name worth keeping an eye on is Marco Rossi from the Minnesota Wild.

If Minnesota makes him available—and that’s still an if—the Bruins could be among the teams ready to make a serious push.

Rossi’s coming off a career year, putting up 24 goals and 36 assists across a full 82-game season.

It wasn’t just the numbers, though.

He looked more comfortable, more confident, and more decisive in tight areas. At just 23, there’s a lot of room for further growth.

Rossi’s skill set aligns with what Boston needs most

The Bruins have been starved for creativity. Their power play struggled.

Transition game? Flat.

Rossi doesn’t solve everything, but he adds something they badly need: playmaking off the rush.

He’s got the vision to find trailing wingers, and the edge to get to the dirty areas himself.

At 5-foot-9, he’s not physically dominant, but his hockey IQ stands out.

His reads are sharp, and he’s capable of quarterbacking a unit from either dot.

Add in the fact that he’s a pending restricted free agent, and you’ve got a player who could be both a short-term fix and a long-term fit.

It won’t be cheap—but the upside might justify the price

Minnesota won’t move Rossi just to shake things up.

He was a top-10 pick in 2020 (ninth overall) and has shown enough upside that the Wild could just as easily keep him and continue building.

So Boston would have to come with a serious offer.

That likely means a package including at least one high-end asset—maybe a first-rounder or a young player with upside.

But for the Bruins, who are light on high-end center prospects, it might be the right kind of risk to take.

Bruins need more than a band-aid—Rossi could be a foundation piece

This isn’t just about replacing production. It’s about direction.

The Bruins have spent the last few years caught between going all-in and rebuilding.

Rossi represents a path forward—a chance to invest in a young core rather than patching holes with rentals.

And with much of their former leadership group gone, it’s time to find the next wave. If Rossi hits another gear in the right environment, he could easily become a top-line center.

The Bruins haven’t had a long-term answer there since David Krejci.

Now might be the time to change that.

This article first appeared on Bruins after dark and was syndicated with permission.

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