The Minnesota Wild have been in hot pursuit of Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.
The team desires a true first-line center, something that could put them over the top in the western conference. Most reports as of lately have been promising for the Wild. Now, with the trade deadline coming tomorrow, the price of Trocheck may just be too much to pay.
Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic recently communicated to unfortunate update.
Minnesota Wild May Not Be Able To Pay Trocheck Price
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the New York Rangers skates against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Per Russo and Smith, the Minnesota Wild are “fading out” of the sweepstakes for Trocheck.
“The Wild’s hopes of getting Vincent Trocheck are fading.
The price for the New York Rangers center appears to be too rich at this point. It may just be that they don’t have the assets to get it done for a 32-year-old multi-faceted player with three years left on a reasonable $5.625 million average-annual-value contract.”
Though a concerning update, the duo did share some other potential options ahead of the deadline at center.
“The Wild have shown interest in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Charlie Coyle, though at this stage in his career, he is not a prototypical top-six center. And as of now, Columbus has indicated to teams it’s not moving him.
Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly is another center the Wild would have interest in. It remains to be determined if he wants to move, though. He doesn’t have no-trade protection but is being treated as such by Predators management, so his decision likely depends on the team pursuing him.”
It’s seeming likely that the Minnesota Wild will hold out with the roster that they have. They aren’t looking to dig too much deeper in their bag of prospects. They still have flexibility to make a big move at the position this offseason, though their Stanley Cup chances this season would’ve improved greatly with a major center acquisition.
It’s not over until it’s over, and the trade window will be closed on Friday at 3 P.M. EST.
Minnesota’s Trade Offer to New York for C Vincent Trocheck
GettyMILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Vincent Trocheck #16 of Team United States takes part during training on day two of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Thanks to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, we now know roughly what the Minnesota Wild are offering to New York.
“There has been plenty of interest from teams other than Minnesota, whose trade offer I believe centers around prospect Charlie Stramel and a 2027 first-round pick as well as another player or prospect.
Trocheck holds a 12-team no-trade list and has said many teams on the West Coast are on it, for family reasons. Rangers GM Chris Drury has told peers that because he has Trocheck under contract for three more seasons, he doesn’t necessarily have to do anything now. That could just be posturing.”
ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark also provided a mock trade for Trocheck and the Minnesota Wild.
-
- Wild receive:
- C Vincent Trocheck
- Rangers receive:
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2028 second-round pick
- D Carson Lambos (Iowa Wild prospect)
- F Charlie Stramel (Michigan State prospect)
- Wild receive:
Minnesota Wild ‘Fading Out’ of Vincent Trocheck Sweepstakes: Insider