Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Entering the NHL season, the New York Rangers were one of the more interesting teams across the league, mainly due to trade rumors that were floating around them. The big question was what the future held for star Artemi Panarin, who entered the year in the final year of his contract.

New York was rumored to be looking into trading Panarin, depending on how the season went, and with them struggling out of the gates, his fate was sealed. The Rangers traded Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings recently, signalling that the team was open for a potential fire sale ahead of the upcoming NHL trade deadline.

And with the Rangers likely entering a rebuild, we could see the organization look to make other moves before all is said and done. One other name that the team has been rumored to be entertaining is veteran Vincent Trocheck.

With Panarin gone, the pathway for New York to move on from Trocheck has opened, and there are multiple teams interested in his services. Trocheck is under contract through the 2029 season, and he is scheduled to make $5.6 million each year, which is a tough amount to trade.

However, the veteran remains a very productive player on the ice, and he is capable of taking on tough assignments for his teams. Trocheck can be a very crafty player, and he is a solid playmaker for his teammates, generating strong shot attempts.

For the year, Trocheck has scored 12 goals and put up 24 assists, playing in 43 games for the Rangers. Trocheck is on pace for another strong season after he scored 26 goals and had 33 assists for New York last year.

One area that Trocheck has thrived in over time is that he has played in all 82 regular seasongames for three straight seasons. This type of durability is what teams look for in players, and it could help his trade stock.

Trocheck could net the Rangers a decent trade return, which could impact how they value him. And while it remains to be seen if the Rangers will pull the trigger on a Trocheck deal, there does seem to be some potential momentum toward it happening.

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Vincent Trocheck to Montreal Canadiens?

One team that could be interested in Trocheck is the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal is looking to give itself more of a winning window in the playoffs, and adding a veteran like this could boost its chances.

NHL insider James Mirtle of The Athletic listed the Canadiens as a prediction spot in a recent article.

“The Canadiens’ biggest hole all season has been down the middle, and it’s going to be a battle at the deadline for the limited options who can fill the 2C role on a contender. Even at 32, Trocheck certainly fits that description, and the fact he comes with some term at a reasonable cap hit will help the Habs bridge the gap as their youth movement progresses,” Mirtle wrote.

Why Montreal Makes Sense For Trocheck

For the Canadiens, they need more help on the power play, which Trocheck can make happen. Due to his playmaking, it could see the Montreal power-play take off, and this would then help them become much more formidable going forward.

Trocheck could also take some of the burden off Nick Suzuki, helping to chip in with the scoring for this team. Montreal has dreams of a Stanley Cup, and Trocheck would be given a chance to play for a winning team right away.

Leaving New York may be tough, especially since Trocheck has a limited no-trade clause in his contract, but Montreal represents a young team that could be on the verge of something special. Many players would jump at the chance to join this situation, and this could be a win-win for each side.

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