JP Gambatese
@jpgambatese.bsky.social
Daily in-depth #NJDevils coverage for Devils’ Advocates | Weekly contributor for Infernal Access | Opinions are my own.
If you want to read more in-depth as to why he's a perfect target for the Devils in a trade, I wrote ~1200 words on him this morning on my free Substack. Check it out below, and follow along for more content like this on a daily basis.
(7/7)
open.substack.com/pub/njdevils...
(7/7)
open.substack.com/pub/njdevils...
The Devils Should Pursue William Karlsson in a Trade
The Vegas center could be a cap dump, and the Devils would be wise to pick up the phone.
open.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
If you want to read more in-depth as to why he's a perfect target for the Devils in a trade, I wrote ~1200 words on him this morning on my free Substack. Check it out below, and follow along for more content like this on a daily basis.
(7/7)
open.substack.com/pub/njdevils...
(7/7)
open.substack.com/pub/njdevils...
A cap-dump situation for a player like William Karlsson is a potential dream-come-true. At $5.9 million, the Devils would need to shed space of their own beforehand, but it would be well worth the player they'd be getting.
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
A cap-dump situation for a player like William Karlsson is a potential dream-come-true. At $5.9 million, the Devils would need to shed space of their own beforehand, but it would be well worth the player they'd be getting.
Few players in the NHL are as disciplined as Karlsson in his positioning, innately knowing when and where to stop coverage and hand it off to his teammates fluidly and without hiccups. He's excellent at forcing turnovers and using that speed to generate chances the other way.
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Few players in the NHL are as disciplined as Karlsson in his positioning, innately knowing when and where to stop coverage and hand it off to his teammates fluidly and without hiccups. He's excellent at forcing turnovers and using that speed to generate chances the other way.
The calling card to Karlsson's game, though, is his defensive play. He's flat-out one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
Not that the Devils need more of that in their lineup, but it certainly is a plus, especially when the offensive habits are already there.
Not that the Devils need more of that in their lineup, but it certainly is a plus, especially when the offensive habits are already there.
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The calling card to Karlsson's game, though, is his defensive play. He's flat-out one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
Not that the Devils need more of that in their lineup, but it certainly is a plus, especially when the offensive habits are already there.
Not that the Devils need more of that in their lineup, but it certainly is a plus, especially when the offensive habits are already there.
This makes him an asset in transition, something the Devils are in desperate need of past the top two lines. Once in an established possession, Karlsson is strong in tightly-contested areas of the ice, being stronger in facilitating than finishing in that regard.
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This makes him an asset in transition, something the Devils are in desperate need of past the top two lines. Once in an established possession, Karlsson is strong in tightly-contested areas of the ice, being stronger in facilitating than finishing in that regard.
From an offensive standpoint, there's a bunch to like about Karlsson's game. In particular, though, he is an extremely strong skater -- he ranked in the 78th percentile in 20+ mph speed bursts despite playing in just 53 games in 2024-25) and ranked in the 83rd for top speed.
June 10, 2025 at 11:43 PM
From an offensive standpoint, there's a bunch to like about Karlsson's game. In particular, though, he is an extremely strong skater -- he ranked in the 78th percentile in 20+ mph speed bursts despite playing in just 53 games in 2024-25) and ranked in the 83rd for top speed.
If you want to read extremely in-depth about how Rossi plays the game, how he fits into the Devils' system, and how/why he can be acquired, I wrote ~2300 words on him this morning on my FREE Substack. Check it out below!
(12/12)
njdevilsadvocates.substack.com/p/marco-ross...
(12/12)
njdevilsadvocates.substack.com/p/marco-ross...
Marco Rossi is the Devils’ Ideal Offseason Acquisition
The Devils would be wise to remedy their mistake from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
njdevilsadvocates.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
If you want to read extremely in-depth about how Rossi plays the game, how he fits into the Devils' system, and how/why he can be acquired, I wrote ~2300 words on him this morning on my FREE Substack. Check it out below!
(12/12)
njdevilsadvocates.substack.com/p/marco-ross...
(12/12)
njdevilsadvocates.substack.com/p/marco-ross...
There really isn't much not to like about Rossi's game. He's a plus-finiser, he's a grinder, he's fast and explosive, he's extremely skilled, he's solid in his own end, and he could be had without getting rid of any NHL assets.
If I'm GM Tom Fitzgerald, he's my #1 priority.
If I'm GM Tom Fitzgerald, he's my #1 priority.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
There really isn't much not to like about Rossi's game. He's a plus-finiser, he's a grinder, he's fast and explosive, he's extremely skilled, he's solid in his own end, and he could be had without getting rid of any NHL assets.
If I'm GM Tom Fitzgerald, he's my #1 priority.
If I'm GM Tom Fitzgerald, he's my #1 priority.
Rossi's defensive game is pretty strong, too, which is also a product of his IQ and work ethic. He positions himself well and is tenacious in pursuit of puck carriers. He can get overzealous once he retrieves the puck, but that would be counteracted by the Devils' D-zone system.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Rossi's defensive game is pretty strong, too, which is also a product of his IQ and work ethic. He positions himself well and is tenacious in pursuit of puck carriers. He can get overzealous once he retrieves the puck, but that would be counteracted by the Devils' D-zone system.
He's an extremely hard worker, active on the forecheck, and tenacious in front of the net. For a 5'9 guy to be as good as he is in terms of netfront chaos, banging in rebounds, deflecting pucks with unreal hand-eye coordination, and generating bedlam is unbelievable.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
He's an extremely hard worker, active on the forecheck, and tenacious in front of the net. For a 5'9 guy to be as good as he is in terms of netfront chaos, banging in rebounds, deflecting pucks with unreal hand-eye coordination, and generating bedlam is unbelievable.
Rossi excels at getting into free space in that area, sneaking into high-danger parts of the zone before pouncing on an opportunity with his quick-triggered shot. If he isn't shooting, his extremely high IQ is on display, finding the best passing opportunity from that area, too.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Rossi excels at getting into free space in that area, sneaking into high-danger parts of the zone before pouncing on an opportunity with his quick-triggered shot. If he isn't shooting, his extremely high IQ is on display, finding the best passing opportunity from that area, too.
His 24-goal, 60-point campaign this past season, to me, is the tip of the iceberg for what he's capable of. I think that he's going to flirt with a point-per-game pace considering his playstyle, which consists of playing mostly in the inner slot.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
His 24-goal, 60-point campaign this past season, to me, is the tip of the iceberg for what he's capable of. I think that he's going to flirt with a point-per-game pace considering his playstyle, which consists of playing mostly in the inner slot.
An offer sheet of, say, $7.5M, would likely result in the Wild letting Rossi go. The compensation? A first, a second, and a third in the 2026 Draft.
Sounds more than fair to me for a guy who hasn't missed a game in two seasons and is just starting to break out.
Sounds more than fair to me for a guy who hasn't missed a game in two seasons and is just starting to break out.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
An offer sheet of, say, $7.5M, would likely result in the Wild letting Rossi go. The compensation? A first, a second, and a third in the 2026 Draft.
Sounds more than fair to me for a guy who hasn't missed a game in two seasons and is just starting to break out.
Sounds more than fair to me for a guy who hasn't missed a game in two seasons and is just starting to break out.
With that in mind, the Devils should pounce. Personally, I'd rather offer-sheet him than trade for him, considering that the Wild sent a first, second, third, fourth, and a young NHL-ready defenseman for David Jiricek, who hasn't proven a thing in the NHL.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
With that in mind, the Devils should pounce. Personally, I'd rather offer-sheet him than trade for him, considering that the Wild sent a first, second, third, fourth, and a young NHL-ready defenseman for David Jiricek, who hasn't proven a thing in the NHL.
To add to that, it's been reported that Rossi is looking for $7M+ on a long-term deal for his next contract, and I don't think Guerin -- a noted size queen -- will bite. Finally, Rossi responded with uncertainty when asked about his future with MIN. The writing is on the wall.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
To add to that, it's been reported that Rossi is looking for $7M+ on a long-term deal for his next contract, and I don't think Guerin -- a noted size queen -- will bite. Finally, Rossi responded with uncertainty when asked about his future with MIN. The writing is on the wall.
2) "The Wild want to keep him."
I'm not sure that's true, either. Rossi was demoted to the fourth line in the playoffs for height reasons (and still scored 0.5ppg), to which he expressed discontent. He's constantly appeared in trade rumors. He rejected a 5x5 deal in the winter.
I'm not sure that's true, either. Rossi was demoted to the fourth line in the playoffs for height reasons (and still scored 0.5ppg), to which he expressed discontent. He's constantly appeared in trade rumors. He rejected a 5x5 deal in the winter.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
2) "The Wild want to keep him."
I'm not sure that's true, either. Rossi was demoted to the fourth line in the playoffs for height reasons (and still scored 0.5ppg), to which he expressed discontent. He's constantly appeared in trade rumors. He rejected a 5x5 deal in the winter.
I'm not sure that's true, either. Rossi was demoted to the fourth line in the playoffs for height reasons (and still scored 0.5ppg), to which he expressed discontent. He's constantly appeared in trade rumors. He rejected a 5x5 deal in the winter.
I've pushed this notion before and have gotten two pieces of negative feedback about it.
1) "He's small."
No, he's *short.* At 5'9, he's listed at 195 pounds. That is not small. He also doesn't play small, or even remotely close to it. Rossi is an absolute dawg out there.
1) "He's small."
No, he's *short.* At 5'9, he's listed at 195 pounds. That is not small. He also doesn't play small, or even remotely close to it. Rossi is an absolute dawg out there.
May 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I've pushed this notion before and have gotten two pieces of negative feedback about it.
1) "He's small."
No, he's *short.* At 5'9, he's listed at 195 pounds. That is not small. He also doesn't play small, or even remotely close to it. Rossi is an absolute dawg out there.
1) "He's small."
No, he's *short.* At 5'9, he's listed at 195 pounds. That is not small. He also doesn't play small, or even remotely close to it. Rossi is an absolute dawg out there.