Marco Rossi // Scouting Report #13
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 185lbs.
D.O.B.: 9/23/01
Stats: 39 Goals, 81 Assists, 120 Points, 56 games played (1st)
Team: Ottawa 67’s, OHL
Position: Center
Most outstanding stat: 80 EV points, 55% PNHLeScore
Blue line to Blue line time: 1.67
Letter, (A-F)=consistency, A is most consistent
Number, (1-5)=tier of talent, 1 being highest
Rank:
4th by EliteProspects.com
5th by Future Considerations
7th by ISS Hockey
8th by TSN/Craig Button
9th by McKeens Hockey
6th by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
6th by Consolidated Rankings
7th by TSN/Bob McKenzie
6th by Dr. Tee Scouting
Scouting report:
What’s up guys? And for my 13th scouting report of the 2020 season I have one of the most under-ranked players in my opinion even though I do have him ranked at the 6th pick this year. This year Marco Rossi led the CHL in scoring and was the 1st ever European to lead the CHL in scoring. He was on pace for nearly 150 points this year, plus the added fact that his last few games were against a team that he was averaging nearly 4 points a game against, (I’m pretty sure it was North Bay). Rossi is probably the best European player this year competing with Tim Stützle of the Adler Mannheim Eagles. So without further to do let’s dive right into this fascinating, and undersized player.
Move - 1D
Rossi is overall maybe not fantastic, but definitely a great skater, he just maybe doesn’t show it quite enough for a player his size, that he’s considered a “bad” skater.
Rossi has great agility which helps him propel around the ice, move around the ice at high speeds, and cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. He moves in, and around traffic extremely well with, and without control of the puck. He has outstanding acceleration, and speed when he wants to show it, as well as a very good motor as I tracked going blue line to blue line in 1.67 seconds which is just under Quinton Byfield’s 1.66 seconds blue line blue line. He’s very mobile, and can work himself in and out of trouble anywhere on the ice, and when matched up with his hockey UQ, is a defenders worst nightmare when he’s coming in on a 2 on 1, 2 on 2, or just skating the puck up the ice.he’s explosive in his first few steps, and really knows how to get the job done, in maybe not the smoothest ways like you’d expect Connor McMichael, or Samuel Poulin too, but still he knows how to get the job done, which I feel is a very fun skill to a players game, especially an undersized ones. He participates in back checks, and forechecks a lot more often than you’d expect someone at 5’9” too, unless you’re looking at a freakishly fit Nils Höglander, really thanks to his mobility, and his motor that helps him get up the ice in short bursts of speed, or in the run pretty well. Despite all of the good in Rossi’s skating there is a pretty big downfall and that’s his consistency. Don’t get me wrong the kid is a player made of work ethic and is not one to give up, but the reason that he’ so low on many people's lost is because he doesn’t really showcase the consistency in his skating that you really want to have if you’re an undersized player, and want to go high in the draft. He can lose sight of the play a little too much, and get a little more reckless than you’d really want at most times. But, he is very determined, and when you see him skate he can really give you that “wow!” Factor at times.
Dangle - 1B
Marco Rossi is one of the best players with the puck in this year's draft, if not the best.
Rossi can simply get the job done with the puck as well, and like Philip Tomasino can trick defenders into giving them more space, and to,e then they really need to because they are afraid of them unleashing their great shots. Ross is not afraid to get into dirty areas of the ice to create a scoring opportunity both with, and without control of the puck, he stickhandler his way in, and out of traffic extremely well for someone of his stature, and it’s a very fun skill to see in any player in general. He plays a bigger game than he is, and when given the puck knows how to do things with it. His quick thinking, and smooth hands help him to make highlight reel plays, and some insane-jaw-dropping moments. For example, I remember him making an unbelievable in between the legs pass without putting his stick exactly in between his legs, and then alps doing in a Mohawk behind the net...if you’ve seen it then you know how crazy it is. Which leads me to his overall perception of his game with the puck, his confidence with it, and his crazy creativity. He can make plays that most players wouldn't even think of trying, and stay on the puck while maintaining control of it in extremely high pressure situations, with a lot of cover on his back. He thinks the game with the puck on a whole different level, and can stickhandle faster than most players think. He does some truly incredible things, and there’s nothing to thank but his elite puck play at the end of the day. Sometimes he can hold onto the puck a little to long, and get a little careless/fancy which can lead to some turnovers especially given how tall he is, despite his overall strength, extra balance, and patience would benefit him greatly if he figures out how to weld that together with the skill set he already has in the right way. So some mental lapses may occur here and there, but they happen, and it’s something that will definitely clear up, given he’s one of the most NHL ready players in this year's draft in my opinion.
This is a picture of Ottawa 67’s centerman Marco Rossi as he dodges a check thrown by Sarnia Sting right winger Ryan Roth in the Ottawa 67’s home rink the TD Place Arena in Ottawa, ON.
Snipe - 1C
Like his stickhandling, and skating, Rossi is great in this aspect of his game, but the road isn't all smooth here, and there are a few bumps.
Rossi possesses a great shot, with a very quick release from anywhere on the ice especially in tight areas, and in close to the net, and a very accurate one as well, probably one of the more accurate ones in the draft. He uses it often but doesn’t overuse it like you could say Arthur Kaliyev may do at times, despite him having gotten a lot better. He has a very good shot selection, and doesn’t overuse it like I said. He’ll do anything to get the puck in the net, and that’s the long of the short of it. He plays with an edge to get the puck, and make something happen every time he’s on the ice. He doesn’t often take a shift off, and is continuously buzzing around the ice trying to wear down defenders with his quick feet. He uses his stickhandling to draw opponents away from the middle of the ice where multiple options open up for him. He can slide an amazing thread the needle pass to a linemate, go in and dangle, and snipe a shot. He loves to start play with the puck just above the circles, specifically the left one, where he can trick defenders into giving more space than he actually needs, like I said, and really make use of that, opening up passing, and shooting lanes all by himself, and making the players around him better. Despite all the goodies ever, it isn’t all cupcakes and rainbows here. He can sometimes really throw himself out of the shifty game he plays, and just act like he’s completely lost. He can sometimes shoot the puck just because, and that’s really why he’s not the most crazy consistent player ever. He can do some questionable things with the puck some times, and just be an annoying player instead of the one he is. You have to give him credit because he is undersized, and this is a very coach-around-able thing, as well as out-able thing but I would expect something a little better from him in the coming years, and I think it will be just that.
Defensive mindset - 1C
Let me start off by saying that Marco Rossi is definitely one of the better, and more undervalued two way centermen in this year’s draft.
Since Rossi plays a good 75% of his game in the offensive zone because of how good he, and his teammates were, he often doesn’t get credited for his above average defensive game. He provides crucial back pressure for the 67’s, and is one of, if not the main reason why Ottawa only gave up on average 2.56 goals per game in a very high scoring league, and scored on average around 4.62 goals per game. He backchecks pretty hard with a decent consistency rate given the size, strength, and skating he has, but the main reason why Rossi is a very big threat for your team in the defensive, and neutral zones is because of his ability to be extremely adaptable to the game around him. He can make a move around a defender if he needs, and can make a very good first pass as well. He has very good positioning too, anticipating the right plays before they happen, and knowing when to look for a pass, or when he can skate the puck up the ice. He’s an absolute grinder, and puts the work in every shift to get the do and make a play in all three zones of the ice. Even though he is one of the better players in this area of his game the road isn’t all smooth like his game really as a whole. He can get a little lost, and troll the play at times not being that really big presence of a player that he is. He can make some hasty decisions sometimes, and that really can’t be ignored. So with some refining of his raw tools, and of his discipline issues he shows very, very rarely there is potential for him in this area of his game, especially with the hockey IQ that he has. His perception of the defensive game is very high end, and if he can refine it out like I said the only thing holding back Rossi is his size, and mainly inches.
Overall - 1C
Overall Rossi is a very straight forward player and you lily know what you’re getting with him. I honestly think he’s a smaller version of Alexis Lafrenière, and the potential, and ceiling for these two players are sky high, which is crazy to think about since a lot of scouts have him outside of the top 6. He contributes to play in all three zones of the ice, and the tool box that he has, as well as his work ethic that he possesses makes for an amazing trio of flat out skill. He’s probably the most fun player to watch in the draft, and I really hope to see him in the NHL since he’s probably the most NHL ready player in the draft besides the obvious.
Electrifying center
Player Comparison: Brayden Point
Both Point, and Rossi are smaller players, but do not play a small game at all. They are willing to get themselves involved in plays that are “bigger” than they are, and have that ability to be able to consistently put their nose where it hurts to set up a teammate or get the puck out of there end. They both work, and adapt to situations extremely well, with their great footwork, explosiveness, and motors, they can maneuver in and out of traffic extremely smoothly, and with great control. And the raw tools that they possess are very high end. Both Point, and Rossi have very potential, and can do everything at an impressively high level.
More reports: Scouching, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xEIKreQGshE
Draft dynasty, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xEIKreQGshE