Vincent Trocheck is a highly sought-after target for contenders looking for a center at this coming Friday’s trade deadline. The New York Rangers‘ two-way pivot has a reasonable $5.625 AAV, and it runs for three more years.
Most observers around the sport have been connecting Trocheck to the Minnesota Wild. We know he has made it clear that he wants to stay in the “East”, but whether or not Minneapolis is “East”, or at least “non-West”, enough remains to be seen. He does hold that 12-team no-trade list. And he’s already turned down a couple of Western teams.
But insider Elliotte Friedman told the guys on the NHL on TNT panel on Sunday that the Wild’s “interest” has gone farther than that. And the ball is firmly in the Rangers’ court.
Most people tend to believe that Minnesota has a standing offer for him and we’ll just see what the Rangers decide to do. I think the Rangers know exactly what Minnesota is willing to do for Trocheck… And I think they’re just looking around there and saying, ‘Alright, do we take that deal or do we find another deal elsewhere that beats it?’
The Rangers have less than five days now to decide if they’re going to call the Wild’s bluff or not and take their offer.
Minnesota GM Bill Guerin isn’t fooling around, however, as we know he’s ready and willing to pull the trigger on huge moves to take his team to being legitimate Cup contenders. From handing Kirill Kaprizov the largest contract in NHL history, to the huge blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes. The Wild are the movers and shakers of this NHL season so far.
Friedman adds that pending UFA Charlie Coyle was another potential target for Guerin, but he says that the Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t rushing into any trade like that, as they’re still in the playoff chase.
The Wild currently sit third in the beast of a division that is the Central, just one point back of the Dallas Stars, and seven points behind the Colorado Avalanche. They need to land one more difference maker to be a serious contender to come out of that division come playoff time.
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