The New York Rangers are back at the forefront of trade rumors. And if true, the situation could provide the Blueshirts with an opportunity to fleece the Montreal Canadiens this summer.
In an interesting rumor rundown, my colleague Tom Urtz Jr. outlined how the Canadiens and Rangers purportedly had a deal in place involving Vincent Trocheck at the trade deadline.
Now, this rumor isn’t really a surprise. About a half-dozen teams were circling Trocheck at the deadline. But what does seem interesting, at this point, is that the calculus has changed, especially for the Canadiens.
After getting unceremoniously bounced in the Eastern Conference Final, you would have to think that the Canadiens might be ready to pay up and make the deal happen.
One of the rumored reservations about other clubs looking to land Trocheck was the price tag on the veteran center.
That price tag might not be an objection anymore. The Canadiens could have used Trocheck, and, well, Montreal can either pay up or look elsewhere. Since there aren’t really very many options out there, the Habs might not have much of a choice.
If the pressure mounts for the Canadiens to do something this summer, the Rangers might just be the team to fleece the Habs.
Rangers could land a high-end prospect in Trocheck deal with Montreal
One of the names involved in just about every Canadiens trade discussion is center Michael Hage. The Habs took Hage 21st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Since then, he’s blossomed in the NCAA, playing with the Michigan Wolverines.
Pretty much every team in discussions with Montreal has asked about Hage. And the Habs have balked at the idea of trading him. The organization views him as a future second-line center. While Hage’s talent is not in question, his ETA is.
Can the Canadiens afford to wait about two to three years before Hage becomes a real fixture in their lineup? Will the fanbase afford the club enough time to develop Hage, among other prospects, in hopes of finally breaking through in the playoffs?
The pressure to make a major improvement could be too much for Canadiens management. That pressure could be enough to lead Montreal to send Hage, among other assets, in a deal for a big-ticket veteran like Trocheck.
At this point, it’s hard to imagine Chris Drury not asking for someone like Hage in a deal for Trocheck. The Habs may not be thrilled with the idea, but what choice do they have?
If Montreal is serious about pulling off a deal this summer, the Rangers are in a prime position to make a killing.
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