Wild first-round pick Marco Rossi returns to Austria

Though it is still not exactly clear what is wrong, Marco Rossi won’t play for the Minnesota Wild anytime soon. The ninth-overall pick returned to Austria, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic, and is expected to return in six weeks. Previously, Rossi was listed as out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, but no other specifics have been officially confirmed. The young forward was living in Minnesota, taking up residence in Thomas Vanek’s house before this return to Austria.

Rossi, 19, played in the World Junior Championship this year, captaining the Austrian squad in four games. Prior to that, he was assigned to Zurich in the Swiss league but managed to play in just a single game before testing positive for COVID-19. He only experienced mild symptoms and was cleared in November, but the league was paused because of an outbreak at that point, so he did not play another game.

There was hope that Rossi could be one of the few players from the 2020 draft to jump directly to the NHL given how polished his all-around game was at the OHL level last season. The young center recorded 39 goals and 120 points in 56 games for the Ottawa 67’s, leading all players in scoring. Instead, he now won’t even play in junior or the AHL as he continues to deal with whatever is ailing him. Even when he does eventually return, Rossi would have to obviously deal with any quarantine protocol is in place at the time before rejoining his Minnesota teammates.