Maple Leafs rumors: Toronto interested in $39 million Rangers center

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a new look front office after a massively disappointing season. Brad Treliving was fired as general manager before the season ended. And head coach Craig Berube was recently let go in his own right. With said new front office in place, the only place left to make changes is the playing roster.

The Maple Leafs are hoping to quickly retool and make it back to the playoffs. Toronto has the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft after winning the draft lottery. And they have a lot of talent on the roster. According to a recent report, one potential trade target this summer could be New York Rangers pivot Vincent Trocheck.

“We know that New York is trying to get off the contract of Trocheck. Toronto is among the teams that have interest, for sure,” NHL insider Darren Dreger said recently during an appearance on TSN OverDrive.

Trocheck was a big name at the NHL Trade Deadline this past season. The Rangers, like the Maple Leafs, were not good in 2025-26. And New York publicly stated its intentions to retool its roster.

However, the deadline came and went with Trocheck staying on Broadway. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with 16 goals and 53 points in 67 games. He missed a month early in the season due to an infection in his lungs.

The Maple Leafs could use improved center depth in 2026-27. Auston Matthews is a clear No. 1 center, even with a down year in 2025-26. John Tavares has the offensive production to stick in the top six. But he could slot in as a very productive playmaking third line center, strengthening his team’s forward group overall.

Trocheck signed a seven-year, $39.38 million contract with the Rangers in 2022. He has three years remaining on that deal, carrying a cap hit of $5.625 million each season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a new look front office after a massively disappointing season. Brad Treliving was fired as general manager before the season ended. And head coach Craig Berube was recently let go in his own right. With said new front office in place, the only place left to make changes is the playing roster.