Ranking the top 31 prospects in the 2020 NHL Draft: 4. Marco Rossi
By Daniel Bruce
How does Rossi fit in Ottawa?
Without predicting who Ottawa selects at third because its not an exact science, we will look at how Rossi fits with the current roster.
Many think Rossi is already NHL ready, and the only way he might not see the big league in his first season is because of the pandemic.
Marco Rossi is unequivocally the second-most NHL ready player in the 2020 crop.
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) June 18, 2020
The main reason he won't be in the NHL next year is that the season likely won't begin until 2021 and he'll be better served playing in Europe starting in September
He may be in Europe to develop his skills, and could be playing next season in Switzerland even before the NHL Draft starts.
While Ottawa is deep down the middle, they don’t have a surefire top line center as of now, with Josh Norris improving significantly last season he adds value to the top six but isn’t on the same level as Rossi. More of the same with Colin White and Chris Tierney who are more suited to be occupying roles in the middle six, but more likely being third liners. While Logan Brown is in a flux among many fans and most likely the organization, he will have to prove himself next year. With the depth at center increasing while Ottawa adds more young studs , Browns situation will become more dire.
Ottawa Senators
On the power play Rossi would be a great fit for Ottawa, he can patrol the half wall, with Chabot being in the Noel Hoefenmayer role which he relied on in junior. Having Duclair on the other side of the ice, Drake Batherson in position at the goal line to distribute and Brady Tkachuk creating havoc in front of the net, would have the looks of a very strong power play in the future for Ottawa.
With Rossi living in Ottawa for the last two seasons, he would be a seamless fit both on and off the ice for the Senators.