Trade talk continues to build around the New York Rangers as the season slips away. After a bold move for Quinn Hughes, the Minnesota Wild are now linked to another high-profile name. League sources say Minnesota has shown interest in Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.
Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, NHL analyst David Pagnotta detailed how Minnesota has approached the situation. Pagnotta said the Wild have been circling Trocheck as they search for another top-six forward.
“I mentioned Trocheck, one team that has been circling on him, the Minnesota Wild,” Pagnotta said. “And we know that many are not afraid to continue to make moves. And Bill Guerin has been very active before or the Hughes trade, he was looking at a second-line type of player, a top-six type of guy that hasn’t really stopped.”
The Wild made a trade on Dec. 12 by acquiring Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. The move raised Minnesota’s ceiling and signaled a clear win-now approach, and now they have checked in on Trocheck.
“So whether it’s going to be at the center position or somebody else on the wing, it certainly sounds like, at the very least, Minnesota has poked around on Trocheck’s availability in New York,” Pagnotta said.
Trocheck’s contract makes him an interesting option. He has three years remaining after this season on a seven-year, $39.375 million deal. His cap hit sits at $5.625 million per season, with unrestricted free agency coming in 2029. That term gives cost certainty for a team chasing playoff success, since a $17 million AAV extension for forward Kirill Kaprizov.
NY Rangers’ Struggles and GM Drury’s Open Message
On the ice, Trocheck’s season reflects New York’s struggles. Through 34 games, he has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. His plus-minus rating is negative 16, though he continues to log 21 minutes on average against top lines.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are eighth in the Metropolitan with a 20-22-6 record. Scoring depth has dried up, and defensive breakdowns persist. Management now faces pressure to reshape the roster, as seen in general manager Chris Drury’s message.
“With our position in the standings and injuries to key players this season, we must be honest and realistic about our situation…,” Drury said. “This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects… That may mean saying goodbye to players…”
Minnesota sits third in the Central at 26-13-9, and is in a comfortable playoff position. If the Wild add Trocheck, it would further underline their intent to push deeper this spring.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in golf, hockey, baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
