The New York Rangers will soon take a few weeks off before resuming activities after the Olympic break. All NHL teams are now in a roster freeze until February 23. Because of this, trades cannot be officially completed until this date. New York beat the clock by trading away Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings right before the freeze went into effect.
While Panarin is a bona fide superstar, the Rangers only received prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick from L.A. It is safe to say that the final haul left Rangers fans incredibly frustrated. Nevertheless, Panarin held all of the leverage in the situation because of a no-move clause in his previous contract. The Russian was essentially able to pick his next team.
With the disappointing Panarin situation behind them, the Rangers now have to focus on other trades. Vincent Trocheck instantly becomes New York’s top tradable asset. Although fan confidence in GM Chris Drury may be at an all-time low, the club will almost certainly receive a better package for Trocheck than Panarin.
According to The Athletic’s Vince Mercogliano, the Rangers want a first-round draft pick and prospects/young NHL-ready players for the star center. Drury should be able to fetch the big haul as well. Unlike Panarin, Trocheck has three more years remaining on a practical contract ($5.6 million AAV) and only has a 12-team no-trade list. The American is also a center and two years younger than Panarin.
New York Rangers Hope Vincent Trocheck Can Help Accelerate Retool
GettyVincent Trocheck is expected to be traded in the coming weeks.
As Mercogliano points out, Trocheck has been linked with several teams in recent weeks. The Minnesota Wild are perhaps the frontrunners in the situation. Wild GM Bill Guerin wants to bring in a quality center before the deadline, and Trocheck would fit the bill. Nevertheless, the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, and Colorado Avalanche are also in the mix.
Rangers fans will be hoping that Drury swings a similar move previously seen in a deal involving Rick Nash back in 2018. The Rangers essentially turned the former star forward into several future key pieces, including Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, and Ryan Strome.
Trocheck, however, is not New York’s only significant trade on the horizon. Drury could also opt to move Braden Schneider. The 24-year-old pending restricted free agent is highly rated within the organization. Despite this, Mercogliano believes that the Rangers are listening to offers for the blueliner. If New York sanctions a deal, the club will have received an offer that they could not refuse.
New York’s Future Rests in Drury’s Hands
Along with Trocheck and Schneider, Alexis Lafreniere is on the table as well. There is, however, quite a lot of risk involved in the young forward’s situation. Lafreniere has struggled in recent years, which means that his value is low at the moment.
Should the Rangers sell the former number one overall pick while his value is so far down? Or should they hold on to see if Lafreniere will bounce back? The question likely gives Drury headaches.
Either way, the next month will be a crucial timeframe for the Rangers. If Drury botches another big trade, it could set back the club for years. However, if the exec can bring back quality pieces ahead of deadline, it could help lay the groundwork heading into the future.
Rangers set Asking Price for Trocheck and Schneider