Danila Yurov’s name has come up repeatedly in trade conversations this offseason for the Minnesota Wild. So much of his value hinges on his offensive upside and his ability to play center. Yurov is a good skater, and his offense flashed throughout his rookie season. In 73 games, Yurov scored 12 goals, 15 assists, and 27 points. His 27 points were the 18th best among rookie forwards.
The questions about Yurov's offensive upside and trade value reminded me of similar conversations surrounding Marco Rossi a few short years ago. Rossi was also 22 when he played his first full NHL season (he had played 21 games over two seasons before his rookie year in 2023-2024), and faced similar questions about whether or not he could be a top-six forward. I think Rossi’s career can tell us something about Yurov’s value and development.
Comparing their rookie seasons:
In the 2023-2024 season, Rossi scored 21 goals and 40 points in 82 games. That was good for a .49 points per game, dwarfing Yurov’s .37 points per game. Their numbers were closer at 5-on-5; 18 of Rossi’s goals and 13 of his assists came at 5-on-5 in that season, according to Moneypuck. Yurov scored 11 goals and 13 assists at 5-on-5 last season.
Beyond the offense, there were also plenty of questions about both players' ability to play center in the NHL. Yurov struggled in the faceoff dot throughout the season, and he was moved to the wing at times. The questions about Rossi's ability to play center had more to do with size.
The biggest difference between Rossi and Yurov’s rookie seasons was the way they were deployed. According to MoneyPuck, the linemates Rossi spent the most time on the ice with in 2023-2024 were Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. For Yurov this season, that was Yakov Trenin and Vladimir Tarasenko. In many ways, when you consider the disparity between who they were playing with, Yurov’s age-22 season is mighty impressive. Mostly playing in a third-line role, Yurov managed 1.67 pts/60.
What does it mean for next season:
Much like it was for Marco Rossi back in the day, the narrative for why Danila Yurov doesn’t deserve a top-six shot is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy; Yurov isn’t producing enough offense, so he shouldn’t get an extended shot in the top-six.
Rossi got his chance in 2023-2024 to play alongside talented offensive players and had a solid season. A year later, he established himself as a top-six center, scoring 24 goals and 60 points in 82 games.
Part of what helps players grow their offensive game is being put in opportunities to play alongside offensive players. Playing center in the NHL at 22 is hard. No 22-year-old center should be expected to come in and create consistent offense night in and night out with 34-year-old Vladimir Tarasenko and Yakov Trenin for linemates.
At this point, the issue for Yurov is that the opportunity to be thrust into a top-six role isn’t likely to materialize, especially if the Wild make a move for a top-six center.
I’m not arguing that the Wild should make space for Danila Yurov in their top-six right now; I’m pretty confident the best version of the 2026-2027 Minnesota Wild doesn’t include Danila Yurov in the top six. However, Yurov needs an opportunity to play with skilled players soon to determine his offensive ceiling and whether he’s a center long-term.
If that’s not going to happen in Minnesota, I think the Wild are better off moving him sooner rather than later, when his offensive upside can still be thought of as potential. The more time he spends in a third or fourth line role, the less offense he will create and the less value he will have as a trade piece.
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