When Rangers GM Chris Drury released a letter to the fans last month announcing a retool, he noted that this process could “mean saying goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years.” We’ve already seen one of those players on the move with last week’s trade that saw Artemi Panarin get moved to Los Angeles.
But retools don’t often stop at one core player being on the move. Meanwhile, with the market having few defined sellers at this point and a lot of teams still being in the playoff picture, those who are willing to move out some talent appear to be poised to capitalize on a strong trade market.
To that end, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic recently noted on Edmonton Sports Talk (video link) that it seems likely that center Vincent Trocheck will be on the move before the March 6th trade deadline.
There aren’t many Rangers who have lived up to expectations offensively this season but Trocheck may very well be one of those who have. After a quieter performance in 2024-25 that saw him collect 26 goals and 33 assists in 82 games (compared to 77 points the year before), the 32-year-old has bounced back a bit this season, notching 36 points in 43 games (a 69-point pace over a full 82-game campaign).
On top of that, Trocheck remains one of the better players at the faceoff dot, winning 56.5% of his draws this season. He’s also logging more than two minutes per night on both the power play and penalty kill and close to 21 minutes per contest overall. Suffice it to say, he’s about as complete of a player as you’re going to find on the trade market.
His two-way skillset is what led the Rangers to sign him to a seven-year, $39.375MM contract back in 2022, a deal that still has three years remaining on it after that one. With a $5.625MM AAV that is already now below-average for a second center, Trocheck is an option that more teams should be able to afford, meaning that New York shouldn’t necessarily have to use one of its salary retention slots to get a deal done.
It’s worth noting that Trocheck does have some trade protection in his deal. Although he no longer has a full no-move clause, he can still block a trade to a dozen teams. That would give him a chance to affect his own trade talks, though nowhere close to the extent that Panarin ultimately did to ensure he landed with the Kings.
At this point, the list of potential suitors for Trocheck would probably be longer than the list of teams that wouldn’t show interest in him. Accordingly, if Drury decides to pull the trigger and move out a longer-term core piece, he will be in a much stronger position than he had with Panarin to elicit a top-end return that moves their retooling process along. Once the trade freeze ends (on February 22nd at 10:59 PM CT), the Rangers will have just 12 days before the trade deadline to try to find a suitable trade for Trocheck.
Penguins.
I doubt it. For once we don’t need a center and he’s not young.
Agreed. He would be great but cost too much.
I bet there is a deal in the works for him to follow breadman to LA. The first rounder this year. A future 4th or 5th rounder Foggle or Moore and one of the gk prospects with no rentention
That’s not close to enough. Your giving up a first at end of first and really nothing else. Gonna take 2 firsts, 2 strong top 5 prospects.
No chance Trocheck gets that much
Currently LA has the 11th pick in Round 1.
Maybe not, but I think he’ll go for more than you realize. Capable centers with term don’t get moved often and he doesn’t have trade protection as far as I know. A lot of teams might want that.
@’Tang It – Vinnie’s got a 12-team M-NTC this year, and 10/6/6 for the last three years of his current contract (per PuckPedia).
Quinn Hughes didn’t command that much of a return. I personally don’t see anyone giving up that much for Trocheck.
Quinn Hughes could pick his spot essentially because he could threaten not to sign. Control is key in these returns. Trocheck doesn’t have much and he plays a premium position well. He’ll get more than you think. Plus, the rangers don’t have to move him so a team will need to pay up or he doesn’t go anywhere.
Panarin netted a top 5 prospect and a 3rd round pick. Not a chance he nets more than panarin.
I respectfully disagree. If he gets moved, it’ll be for more
The team that’s been most associated with Vincent Trocheck has been the Minnesota Wild as one has to think they’re the front-runner. Granted, other teams will certainly challenge to acquire him. This trade deadline is going to be interesting because of how teams are placed this season.
would love for Utah to get him. insurance for Cooley. bump everyone down a notch.
Get rid of a Druey, if you are going to do it right
Why does he have to be traded? I am still missing that piece. If some team overpays and backs up the truck, yes of course.
But even in he regresses to a 3r or 4th C , with rising salary cap he will still be a good value.
Centers are so hard to find, it has to be a kings ransom to do the trade. Trading him just to trade him seems kinda dumb but I am sure Drury has a plan.
It might be that he wants out. If you had a choice, would you want to stay on this sad sack team? We won’t know until later, of course
Because the chances of the Rangers truly being contenders in the next few years is incredibly small and at no point will Trocheck’s value be higher.
First, he’s been playing with a point per game guy in Panarin who is no longer there so expect his numbers to go down. Second, his great contract is part of the allure. The longer you hold onto him, the less value you get in return. As much as I love having him on the team, the best thing that Rangers fans can get from him is a return for the future. Having him play well and risking injury on a floundering team doesn’t make much sense.
I was with you until you said Drury has a plan haha
Penguins hopefully, home town kid he was supposed to sign with pittsburgh with that same contract when the Rangers signed him, then last second , Sid wanted Malkin back and they resigned him. He can be our 2nd line Center, with Malkin at wing if they sign him for one more year.
Dubas wont do it. He is too expensive and not in his early to mid 20s
Also likely focused on defense
He would be a very effective 2C for a contender
After the Olympics, on the flight home, GMBG will put a fake mustache on Trochek, have him board a separate plane to MN and call Drury and say Trochek stayed behind in Italy. Drury will believe this and the rest will be history.
Would he accept a trade back to Carolina I wonder?
It was never a bad feelings kind of separation, just a contract thing. I think he would be ok with it.
Not sure they can line up great on a trade though because Nikishin is gonna be off the table and they dont have a ton of high end assets beyond him (unless the Rangers want someone like Blake/Stankoven + a first + a prospect, but I dont see it).
The Canes gave KK a huge contract and lowballed Tocheck. Thats why he left
Ok 58.
This is stupid. The best face-off player, hardnosed in-your-face mentality guy, great teammate and rookies mentor…
Who are the core players Drury wants to build around?
Meantime Drury — let’s trade him out like other value players like Goodrow, Trouba, Kreider and then I’ll hire more Brodz, Parsinen, Sheary, Spencer type guys picked from waivers. Hey, what is the longest not winning a S.C. record? Hold my beer.
I know what you all think, draft picks and prospects.. Rangers gonna screw top prospects anyway
Rangers have won just one Cup in 86 years and counting. Could be a record.
Here”s your beer back.
I’ll cry 67 years for ranger fans
At what point does this become a rebuild and not just a retool ? They will only keep Igor and Fox ? It’s only been since 1994 so what’s the rush anyway ?
Miller isn’t going anywhere I’m sure
No Penguins. Our forward lines are perfect right now. Balanced with chemistry on each line and each line fitting their role well.
I actually really liked the Red Wings idea. I don’t like the Wings’ roster, but adding Trocheck as a 2C there changes the dynamic of that team in a way they need.
If the Wild could pull that off, they might be able to hang with the Avs.
The one problem for the Rangers is that a few of the teams that really need a 2C have bottomed out (VAN, WPG, etc.)
Sabres?
Couldn’t wait until after the Olympics? Hopefully, he’s not distracted.
He came from the Hurricanes. I say he will head back to Carolina.
That is a good fit.
@Brian – Nice change with the byline. Good look! 👍🏻
Detroit gives: 2026 1st, Amadeus Lombardi (a 22 yo C that is nearly a pt per game in the AHL, JT Compher ($1M retained, salary back and a bottom 6 C) and a 2028 2nd
Detroit Red Wings!
This has DET written ALL over it, and he would be a perfect fit for that roster. Wonder how much Stevie Y would be willing to part with.
Kasper, Kiiskinen, and a 1st?
Mentioned here:
Red Wings: I think if the Rangers can pry Danielson or Bear + a 2nd, that gets the deal done.
Mammoth: Would probably take But and a 2nd.
Wild: Not sure they have the prospects, and it wouldn’t make sense for them to send Yurov back.
L.A.: They wish, but very unlikely. Their prospect cupboards are bare.
Penguins: Unlikely as they seem set down the middle.
Canes: Does that bump Stankoven down to the 3rd line and Staal to the 4th? Or does Stankoven go to the wing? Do the Rangers even want any of the Canes prospects? Nadeau to bolster the right side if Greentree isn’t it?
Dark horses:
Philly: Jett Luchanko and a 2nd? Dvorak bumped down to 3rd line.
Seattle: Wright straight up might do it, though Seattle would probably need to throw in a 3rd.
Boston: I don’t think they have the prospects, but Poitras, Locmelis, and a 1st could be interesting.
Panthers: Could be good for next year when Barkov comes back and they’re competitive again. I could see Tro straight up for Lundell.
Devils and Islanders could use him, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on more tri-city trading.
Lightning: Tampa could use him to bump Gourde down–not sure they have what it takes in terms of prospects though.
I actually think most of these values are realistic and balanced. Certainly most seem plausible. You must be one of those insiders!
I think the Canes would likely be looking to move Stankoven back to wing if he isnt in a deal. He hasnt been terrible but he isnt the answer at center long term.
Detroit gives Amadeus Lombardi, Trey Augustine, Michael Rasmussen, and a 2026 1st for Vinny.
Commentariat sleeping on the Caps. Patrick is desperate to make a move. Carbery probably prefers a speedier RW who can both carry thru neutral and retrieve for Ovi/Strome, but Tro opens up a lot of possibilities.
Strome/Tro/PLD/Dowd gives them insane C depth, two elite FO options, the Cup-caliber 3rd line they’ve sorely lacked, and a legit bumper to open up PP2. McMichael to NYR (plus a prospect/1st) is a near even salary swap once he goes thru RFA this offseason. Wilson, Protas, Leonard, Sourdif, Beauvilier is a contending rest-of-the-top-9. Dowd walks as a UFA and gets replaced by Little Pro or a 1-year JAG. I think GMCP will overpay for this scenario.
Drury will no doubt blow this, like everything else he touches. It was a mistake to pay Igor so much that you’re not able to build around him.
Organizationally speaking, the Rangers inability to develop prospects will ruin anyone coming back in a trade, or hasten their departure via another stupid trade once their career has been derailed and their spirit broken.
But because I really like Trochek (and I’m fed up as a Rangers fan), I hope he gets what he wants out of this, if he does want to leave. If he can spit in Drury’s & Dolan’s eye on the way out the door, good for him.
Tro should’ve been captain.
Here is a crazy thought. Miller and Trochek are best buddies. This Ranger team will stink for many years so package them both to either Minnesota for Yurov and picks plus prospects plus retain money, Detroit has some good prospects, or even the Islanders who with miller and Trochek can make a serious run.