The hockey world is buzzing with intrigue, and Montreal Canadiens fans have every reason to be on the edge of their seats.

Behind closed doors, a high-stakes drama has unfolded this summer, centered around one of the most promising young centers in the NHL—Marco Rossi of the Minnesota Wild.

As rumors swirled and insiders whispered, the Canadiens found themselves at the heart of a potential blockbuster trade, sparking endless speculation about what they might be willing to give up for a player of Rossi’s caliber.

But now, thanks to a surprising revelation from a trusted NHL insider, new details have emerged that could change everything we thought we knew about this situation.

The story goes far beyond simple trade talks; it’s a tale of ambition, negotiation, and the delicate balance between building for the future and seizing the present.

What did the Canadiens actually offer Minnesota? Why did the Wild hesitate, and what does this mean for both teams moving forward?

With Rossi’s future suddenly less certain—and another Canadiens star making headlines of his own—fans are left wondering just how close their team came to pulling off a game-changing deal. The truth behind these negotiations may be even more shocking than you expect.

Dec 21, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) shoots Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson (8) on defense in the first period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Insider Frank Seravalli has just shared some interesting information regarding the Marco Rossi situation.

Let’s recall that this young center, a solid second-line NHL center, has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens on numerous occasions this summer in trade rumors.

In recent days, he finally signed a new three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild, a deal worth five million dollars per year.

He could still be traded, but let’s just say the situation is now much less urgent for them.

Frank Seravalli may have just revealed what the Canadiens were offering Minnesota in exchange for forward Marco Rossi

Here’s the statement in question.

Frank Seravalli, on Marco Rossi:

“There were teams that were inquiring seriously, but they couldn’t find a deal that made sense for them, because the Wild weren’t just looking for a second-round pick in return, they didn’t want assets solely for the future.” – Bleacher Report

Basically, we can understand that several teams seriously inquired with the Wild about acquiring Marco Rossi (likely including the Montreal Canadiens, according to what he says afterward), but these teams were only willing to offer a second-round draft pick.

The Wild were asking for more than that in return for Rossi, which explains why he wasn’t traded. Quite simply.

Marco Rossi, 23 years old, is a 5-foot-9, 182-pound center who was selected 9th overall in 2020 (1st round) and who recorded 60 points with the Wild last season.

I wonder if the Wild would have accepted Kirby Dach + a pick in exchange for Rossi.. But well, we’ll probably never know!

The good news, however, is that Dach seems to be doing much better!

To be continued!