Jeff Marek: Inside the Blockbuster Trade That Nearly Sent Marco Rossi to the Atlantic Division
JJ Peterka was dealt to Utah early this off-season, but now reporter Jeff Marek has revealed the he was almost moved for recently extended Wild star Marco Rossi.
This off-season has been very slow and boring after being built up by NHL insiders all year long, but one move that genuinely did surprise was the move that saw JJ Peterka traded to the Utah Mammoth.
That deal was a shock, as many saw Peterka as much more valuable than the return that the Sabres got, but given that they wanted to get it done early, they took the return that they liked the most and quickly moved past it.
Why the Wild and Sabres Nearly Struck a One-for-One Deal
However, NHL Insider's Jeff Marek and Pierre McGuire have now revealed on the latest edition of The Sheet that a one-for-one trade almost came to fruition, with the Minnesota Wild looking to acquire Peterka in exchange for then RFA Marco Rossi.
Jeff Marek: I really wondered if we were gonna see Rossi for Peterka
Pierre McGuire: That actually did make a lot of sense; I had heard that from other people.
Pierre McGuire: That actually did make a lot of sense; I had heard that from other people.
Peterka's Utah Move Reveals How Close the Trade Came
According to both McGuire and Marek, speculation around the league was that a deal was close, and given that both needed a fresh start and/or a new deal, it's one that made sense for both parties on paper.
Ultimately though, the Sabres decided to go with the return that included multiple players, but with neither having the ceiling of Rossi at the age of 23, it's safe to say that they may have made a major mistake by passing on the potential one-for-one deal.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 26|163 ANSWERS Jeff Marek: Inside the Blockbuster Trade That Nearly Sent Marco Rossi to the Atlantic Division Would this have been a better deal for the Buffalo Sabres? | ||
| Yes | 123 | 75.5 % |
| No | 40 | 24.5 % |
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