The New York Rangers have finally found a suitor for Vincent Trocheck. After months of trade talk, they were able to deal him to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Sean Durzi, Cole Beaudoin, and a third-round pick in 2027.
Overall, it was a strong return, but if we zero in on one particular piece of the return and his potential, it makes the deal look even better. Cole Beaudoin has the NHL upside to be much better than the man he was traded for, and even if he doesn't reach that level, Trocheck himself is still a realistic player comp for Beaudoin.
Acquiring Beaudoin was a steal for Drury & the Rangers
When you trade a player of Trocheck's caliber, the goal is to try to get back something of equal value. Whether that be in prospects, picks, or roster players, while Durzi is a great pickup, Beaudoin is going to be the highlight of this trade package.
Beaudoin, 20, was drafted with the 24th pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and was a steal for the Mammoth then. He's a bigger steal now. Over his junior career with the Barrie Colts, he has dominated. However, it reached a new level this past season when he had 88 points in 54 games and 29 points in 15 playoff games. It would have been more if he weren't dealing with an injury.
Although he is a big body, he isn't overly physical in terms of crushing hits. But he uses his frame and leans on his opponents to make life difficult for them. At times, he emulates John Tavares in his early days in the NHL. He has good edges and skates well and low to the ground. He can control the play up the ice and into the offensive zone; he has good hands, and his routes to the puck are excellent. He really appears to be the total package.
One thing that's noticeable from my days as a credentialed Colts writer is how he turns his stick around depending on what side of the ice he is on for faceoffs. If it's on his strong side, he is just as good as his off-handed side because of the simple flip that he does with his stick.
He has the skill level and the maturity to step into the NHL as early as the 2026-27 season. He may start in the third-line center spot and eventually move up, but he will be a very reliable second-line center throughout the prime of his career, and depending on his wingers, that could turn out to be a first-line center. Either way, acquiring Beaudoin at 20 years old is an absolute steal for the Rangers.
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