Photo: Michael King | Inside The Rink
Team USA and the New York Rangers 32-year-old center might be on the move ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline as the Rangers’ most valuable trade asset after the departure of forward Artemi Panarin. Trocheck recently said that thoughts of being dealt this season were starting to “settle in”.
The Rangers are not desperate to trade Trocheck, who is under contract for three more years at a reasonable $5.625 million cap hit. New York could wait until the offseason or even next year’s deadline if necessary. As an affordable center with offensive ability, Trocheck could command a return that is a little more than one might think.
The Boston Bruins have been searching for help at the center position since the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, and Trocheck represents exactly the type of “Bruins-style” player GM Don Sweeney covets. Elias Linholm and Pavel Zacha are adequate up the middle for Boston, but Zacha’s contract expires after next season, and Linholm has not been productive five-on-five. Trocheck could be someone who could play with star forward David Pastrnak during what could be a rather improbable playoff run for Boston.
Rumors intensified during the 2026 Olympic break, as Trocheck’s gritty, multi-dimensional play style aligns perfectly with the “piss and vinegar” identity President Cam Neely prefers. A legitimate offensive center with those qualities could be enticing to Boston with three years left on the deal. Young center Fraser Minten has held down the third-line pivot with some potential for top-six minutes in the future. Prospects James Hagens and Dean Letourneau could be options down the road, and three years of Trocheck could help bridge that gap.
Rangers Perspective
Sources suggest that the New York Rangers would likely demand a package centered around a prospect, a higher-end draft pick, and a roster player. Would Fabian Lysell, Casey Mittelstadt, and a second-round pick get it done? Mittelstadt has been decent in his first full season in Boston and only has one year left on a contract similar to Trocheck’s.
Given that Trocheck reportedly has a preference for the East Coast, Boston is a formidable threat to the likes of Minnesota and Carolina, who are playoff contenders with a need for a veteran centerman. It all could depend on how quickly the Bruins want to reload.
The Bruins have arrived ahead of schedule this season and find themselves in a playoff position at the Olympic break. Trocheck would make their lineup more formidable for the final push after years of searching for help down the middle, but Boston would presumably be reluctant to part with the necessary picks and prospects to get it done. Boston could also decide that less years of Mittelstadt are more desirable than three years of Trocheck.
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.