Insider makes bold Canucks’ Marco Rossi prediction

Although Elias Pettersson makes more money than any other player on the Vancouver Canucks, it’s been rumored for many months that he could eventually be shipped out of British Columbia.

Whether or not that comes to pass, he is no longer looked to as the team’s top option up front — at least according to The Athletic insider Thomas Drance.

Drance believes instead that Marco Rossi is Vancouver’s top-line center entering the 2026-27 season.

“This season, I genuinely think the Canucks consider Rossi as their first-line centre. He had legitimate chemistry with Brock Boeser, and I think that left wing spot is probably the best place to park Jake DeBrusk next season, if he isn’t dealt this summer,” Drance wrote.

“As for Rossi’s future, he has two seasons remaining on his bridge contract and will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent on the expiry of his contract. That’s suboptimal, of course, because Rossi is likely to get significant opportunity and produce over the next two seasons. He’ll probably have an enormous amount of leverage as a result of his projected role, productivity and the fact that he’s legitimately good.”

Rossi was excellent for the Canucks after coming over as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. After returning from injury at the end of February, he amassed 20 points in 25 games while quarterbacking the top powerplay unit.

Drance sees the Canucks with two options for the Austrian forward: either strongly considering trading him in 2027 when his value is highest, or sign him to a long-term contract extension around the same time that will keep him in Vancouver throughout the rebuild.

“My lean, given that Rossi will be 27 when his third contract kicks in, and that Vancouver’s next great first-line centre might be a half-decade out from arriving in any event, is that the optimal strategy is to let Rossi succeed and produce in a top-of-the-lineup role this season.”

The 24-year-old could be considered a franchise cornerstone if he continues to develop, and that should be one of the more interesting storylines to follow in what could be another long season for the Canucks.