The New York Rangers made a decision to retool the team a few months ago. The trade of Artemi Panarin put the train on the tracks, and Vincent Trocheck was next. However, the Rangers ended up keeping him after the deadline, despite rumours he would no longer stay a Ranger. Since then, the Rangers have played pretty well, and Trocheck is still playing a big role. Should the Rangers keep him around, or look to trade him in the summer?

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Why Trocheck Stayed

The main reason Trocheck stayed wasn’t necessarily because the Rangers wanted to keep him, but more because they didn’t get the return they were looking for. The Minnesota Wild reportedly made a good offer for Trocheck, but Rangers general manager Chris Drury decided to keep looking for a better offer. When a better offer didn’t materialize, Drury opted to hold off on trading Trocheck for a better return later down the line.

Sullivan on how everything went down with Vincent Trocheck at the deadline and where things stand now:

“I didn’t know anything, but what I do know is the uncertainty around trade deadlines, and I know how much we value Troch and what he brings to this team. If Chris (Drury) were…

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) March 7, 2026

Trocheck was the big fish in the deadline this year after Panarin, and Drury didn’t want to get rid of him for nothing. The Panarin return was already underwhelming, so it was important for New York to get something good back for Trocheck. It’s a smart move for them to keep him around, and see what New York will get in the summer. Trocheck is a good player, a leader in the locker room, and on a team-friendly deal. The Rangers don’t need to rush him out the door.

What Should NYR do Now?

Whatever the Rangers decide to do now, they need to be cautious. Trocheck is a top-tier asset, and trading him for nothing will slow the rebuild down. Many teams will be calling the Rangers about Trocheck (and possibly Adam Fox) in the summer, and Drury needs to stay strong and wait for an offer he likes. A good return will either be a few high picks, or a good player/prospect with a few picks attached.

Expect the same or similar teams to be in on Trocheck in the summer. Minnesota will make another offer if they don’t win the Stanley Cup this year, of if they’re unable to keep Quinn Hughes. Other teams that will make offers include the Carolina Hurricanes and the Detroit Red Wings. Interestingly, the Boston Bruins were in the mix for Trocheck, and it’s possible they could make a move for him. However, Boston doesn’t have a ton of assets the Rangers want, so a trade could be more difficult.

Could Adam Fox be on the Move?

Trocheck is not the only player who might be traded in the summer. Drury has made it clear that everyone is on the table, and Adam Fox is a conversation worth having. Fox made some odd comments after a game before the trade deadline, and those comments went viral. It feels like there’s some tension behind the scenes, but whether or not that results in a trade remains to be seen. Fox is the Rangers’ most important player and with a full no-move clause, so trading him won’t be easy. Fox is only 28 years old as well, so he’s still in the prime of his career.

It’s safe to assume that the Rangers will want to keep Fox, but he might control his future and want to go somewhere that’s not in the middle of a rebuild. Many teams around the league will be interested if he becomes available, and that will drive the price up. The Rangers would get a massive return for him no doubt, but New York needs to weigh the risk versus the reward.

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