Quoting: gopherit
The problem I have with that is I don't see Rossi growing a whole lot more in the AHL. He dominated in the OHL, he dominated in the AHL, he dominated in training camp, and he dominated in the preseason. Yes, he needs to add strength and speed. But that comes with time, regardless of whether he plays in the AHL or the NHL. IMO his biggest issue is lack of confidence. Last game, he legitimately looked afraid to touch the puck. And not out of fear of getting hit but of making a mistake. And he's not alone. The team has looked tense all season as if they haven't gotten over last postseason's early exit. Nearly every player is trying to do too much and making a ton of mistakes because of it. Now I will grant you that Shaw and Steel have looked far better than Rossi but the difference is that the first 2 see themselves as underdogs with something to prove while Rossi is expected to become our first franchise center in team history (even if he most likely tops out as a 2C, maybe 1C-B). I also disagree with the notion that we'd be "throwing him to the wolves". If you would have asked 2 days ago whether I Rossi should play on the first line, I would've said no. However, after re-reading Russo's pieces on the Kap+Zucc bromance, as well as the profile on Zucc when he first joined the Wild, I couldn't help but be reminded of how similar Zucc and Rossi are. Both are brilliant with the puck, undersized, lacked confidence when joining a new team (Zucc talked about how he tried to fade into the background when he first joined the Rangers, then again when he was traded to Dallas, then AGAIN when first joining the Wild....despite being a veteran), and are super competitive.
Look at Colorado's handling of Newhook. Despite getting off to a terrible start (0 pts in 4g and the worst player on the ice), their coach has made it clear that he's giving Newhook a "very long audition in the role". I firmly believe that's the mentality we should have with Rossi. Let him marinate for a bit in the league. If he still hasn't shown signs of improvement a month from now (averaging 12-15+ minutes/game), then we can send him down. But at least give him a chance to shake off the "first season jitters".
Putting up points and dominating are 2 different things. Rossi wasn't the best player on the ice in the AHL last year. He wasn't even better than Dewar, Rask or Rau. Boldy, when he was in his stint, was the best player on the ice for both teams. Even in the preseason games Rossi was fumbling the puck, behind the play, and floating. Beckman the preseason before was the same way.
Guys like Dewar, Shaw and Steel are fighting for their careers. They know this could be their last or only chance to be NHL players. Rossi is currently missing that edge to his game.
I agree he is like Zucc. The problem is Rossi is playing center not winger. Everything about Rossi's game screams winger in the NHL. He just doesn't have the physical size and/or speed to play center, and those are the 2 things that can't be learned.
The team is struggling, but some of that is the goaltending being awful and playing from behind the entire game. Part of it also just a regression to the norm for Foligno, Hartman, and Freddy G after spiking a career year. They would make a great 4th line, but they aren't top-6 players.
Another big difference between Newhook and Rossi is the coach wants (or at least is okay with) him in the lineup. Evason wants nothing to do with Rossi, just like he wanted nothing to do with Addison last year.
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Rossi,
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