Colorado Avalanche Draft Profile: Cerebral Marco Rossi
The Colorado Avalanche would love to pick a smart, speedy playmaker like Marco Rossi, but it’s highly unlikely to happen.
The Colorado Avalanche will have a low first-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft. So, they won’t be picking Marco Rossi.
When the Colorado Avalanche phone in their first-round draft selection — because that’s how it’s likely to be done — they are highly unlikely to be able to choose center Marco Rossi. He’s a player ranked to go between fourth-overall to eighth-overall. Colorado will likely pick at #29.
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Marco Rossi is a center out of Feldkirch, Austria. He’s on the smaller size, at 5-foot-9, 179 pounds. He’s also one of the older players on the draft for the first time. He was born in late September, so he’s 18 going on 19 pretty quickly.
Let’s look at what Rossi is going to bring to some team.
Marco Rossi Stats
Marco Rossi has spent the last two seasons playing in the OHL for the Ottawa 67s. He’s played a total of 109 games for them. In that time, he’s recorded 68 goals and 117 assists for 185 points. This last season has been stellar for him. He recorded a whopping 120 points — 39 goals and 81 assists in 56 games.
Interestingly, Rossi has represented Austria in world competitions. But he primarily played in Swiss leagues before coming to North America.
Marco Rossi Highlights
Marco Rossi is poised to go in the top 10 in this season’s draft, so he has a lot of the skills you’d expect to go with that level. Central Scouting describes him thus:
"“He’s a highly skilled offensive player who is equally dangerous creating plays and finishing scoring chances. Rossi is an excellent skater, solid on his skates and difficult to knock off the puck, and he can make plays off the rush or in tight areas. He demonstrates a strong cycle game, can extend plays in the offensive zone and can beat defenders with speed or with an impressive set of moves.”"
Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects had an interesting analysis of Rossi:
"“One of the elder statesmen of the class gives up size but makes up for it in skill. Has the ability to drop-jaws with his puck skills. A duel-threat off of the rush or set up. A monster on the man-advantage.”"
Here’s Mike Morreale of NHL.com:
"“Despite his size he’s capable of winning 50/50 puck battles, is strong on face-offs (58.5 winning percentage) and generates offense with his high hockey IQ, good hands and playmaking ability.”"
With that in let’s look at some highlights from Marco Rossi
He does make some cerebral passes.
Colorado Avalanche and Marco Rossi
Any player who’s scouted to go in the top 10 of a draft is going to be a good player and one who’s likely to make the NHL roster sooner rather than later.
Marco Rossi certainly does present a full package, and one the Colorado Avalanche would love to possess. He’s got the speed that would let him keep up with the style of the team. The way he scores off the rush would especially be an advantage. You also love to see that faceoff percentage, though you can never tell if that will translate in the NHL.
Like I said, though, the Avalanche are not picking high enough to score a player like Rossi, and that’s a blessing for our team.
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The Colorado Avalanche will get a good player with their first-round draft pick. Hopefully they can find someone along the lines of Marco Rossi.