There may be several teams calling the New York Rangers regarding Vincent Trocheck's position this offseason
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston on New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.
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McKenzie: “I hit the ground running, and I know Vincent Trocheck is the first, and we touched on the fact that Minnesota expressed some interest in the event at the deadline. Anyone else would have wanted a guy like Vinny Trocheck. At 32 years old, he played in 67 games this past season, 53 points. He's still an important center for what he does.”
Johnston: “Yeah, he is, and you know, we know the Leafs at least connected there as an example. I think a lot of teams, you know, a lot of good teams, frankly, this is someone you can plug into your lineup, and you know, you know, he's just been there, done that. He won a gold medal in the Olympics in the monster-offs in the USA.
So I think you're looking at the teams that are there, in win mode now. Or trying, in the case of the Leafs, to get back to where they're competing for a playoff spot, and you know, basically get back to where they are. And they see that as a possibility.
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Now you know the Rangers, because you know all the reasons we highlighted, the fact that this guy was first or second on the trade board for most of the season, and he was a scratch, if you remember, before the trade deadline. As for one of those system security issues.
You know, he didn't move because they didn't get, you know, what they needed to make sense from the end of New York. I think it was a bet at the time that there would be more teams coming into the picture as they entered the summer.
But, you know, it's going to be, I think you're going to have to pay a fair price to get Vinny Trocheck at this stage of his career. And so, you know, that's the kind of tension that lies there.
But you know, there are, of course, a lot of teams that I think could use a player like this. And you know, maybe some different teams that we're not focused on, because in the season you make those trades at the deadline, usually it's only playoff teams. I think there's a wide window to use someone who works like him, and his ability to jump and multitask in your team.”
McKenzie: “I don't know that Montreal might be in the middle of that list as well, considering the depth they can use. It doesn't mean that their center depth is gone, but as I think that's a hole they can fill. Maybe you put them in the middle of your list, as an example of a team.”
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Johnston: “Yeah, it's pretty clear. I mean, I'm sure we're going to get into playoff talk at some point, but Montreal needs really good players, and this is a good player. And he can say that's the best way to use their assets. I mean, they're going to have to look at the number of guys out there.
But you know, it's probably been a humbling experience, I would say, these last few days in the Eastern Conference Final for the Canadians. The way they are, you know, the gap between them and the Hurricanes. In fact, I know there are two overtime games, but if you look at the way the series has played out, it's clear that the Canadians have a reason to build themselves up.
Obviously, they're a small team, but I think they're going to look, you know, they were trying to be aggressive at the trade deadline. They did not make a deal of any consequence, but I have seen them repeat that before the draft. I mean, it's been something that Kent Hughes has done each of the last seasons, he's made some big trades leading up to the draft, and I would expect them to be aggressive again.
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