West Notes: Rossi, Patera, Johansen

Center Marco Rossi is one of the more prominent remaining restricted free agents around the league.  Michael Russo of The Athletic recently was on the DFO Rundown (video link) and reported that the two sides aren’t believed to have spoken in the last few weeks, effectively playing a game of chicken.  Rossi is believed to be seeking a long-term contract while the Wild’s preference is a bridge deal, something that Rossi is hesitant to sign after being dropped to the fourth line in the playoffs.  An offer sheet is still potentially an option if another team steps up and presents the offer that Rossi’s cap is looking for but this could be a case where he remains unsigned until closer to training camp with the waiting game in full effect on both sides.

Elsewhere out West:

• The Canucks plan to have prospects Nikita Tolopilo and Ty Young as the AHL tandem for next season, notes Thomas Drance of The Athletic (subscription link). They also have prospect Aku Koskenvuo who is likely to start in the ECHL.  With Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen entrenched as the tandem in Vancouver, that has Jiri Patera as the odd man out.  Patera has NHL experience but was limited to just seven games last season.  Drance relays that the Canucks are still determining where they plan to assign the 26-year-old next season assuming he clears waivers which suggests that a loan (or trade) outside the organization could be coming.
• Defenseman Lucas Johansen has signed a one-year deal with AHL Henderson, per a team release. The 27-year-old spent last season with the affiliate of the Golden Knights, but was limited to just 38 games where he had 11 assists and 28 penalty minutes.  Johansen was a first-round pick by Washington back in 2016, going 28th overall but has played in just nine career NHL games over parts of three seasons, collecting a pair of assists.