"Niemand will verlieren. Das ist einfach der Prozess, den wir mit der Mannschaft durchgehen müssen. Natürlich ist das mühsam, aber wichtig sind Geduld und Glaube."
"You can never be strong and fast enough. This was the best summer I've ever had," Rossi smiles.
Working with strength coach Matthias Graf might be one factor for that; another is that he recently officially made his girlfriend Stefanie Mrs. Rossi.
And two more weeks remain in Europe, where on-ice training will continue with HC Davos.
Lots of New – Including the Leadership Role
A revitalized environment awaits in Vancouver: Ryan Johnson is the new General Manager, Canucks legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been made Co-Presidents of Hockey Operations, and not least, Rossi's coach is a brand new face. Manny Malhotra is taking over an NHL team as head coach for the first time. "The entire coaching staff is completely new, they've never been in the NHL before. So it's going to be interesting, but the anticipation is high," Rossi emphasizes.
After all, the worst team from last season has almost nothing to lose. "When the trade came, I was already happy to be out of Minnesota," Rossi looks back without nostalgia – despite or precisely because of the arduously negotiated contract extension last summer, the collaboration with the Wild was no love affair.
Now he is co-leading a "young, very hungry" team as a key figure. "In Minnesota, we were one of the oldest teams; in Vancouver, we are one of the youngest. Despite being 24, I'm among the experienced players. It's different when I, as a young player, try to explain something to another young player."
Passing on the NHL Dream
The sharing of experience was already practiced once on Monday – in St. Pölten. Together with Gregor Biber, Rossi patiently made himself available for a training session and autographs with the youth players of the Lower Austria Stars.
"If you do good youth work, that's the most important thing, that's the future," says Rossi, who also held a four-week camp at home in Feldkirch and spent four days on the ice with children in Graz.
"I enjoy being with the kids. I try to pass on my experience. I was young once too and looked up to the older players."
Even at the Bottom, Playoffs are in Sight
The dream of the Stanley Cup may not come true so quickly in his new workplace – and in a "rebuild," every franchise will accept setbacks for the sake of better future prospects.
But that doesn't mean the players will give up on the season before it even begins. "Nobody wants to lose. That's simply the process we have to go through with the team. Of course, it's tedious, but patience and belief are important."
Despite everything, Rossi and Co. will "keep the playoffs in sight. They must always be the goal."
If the Vorarlberg native brings his positive feeling from this summer onto the NHL ice, it should at least not be due to him if things go wrong.
