Trade signals intensify as Rangers scratch Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick

The writing is on the wall. With less than 24 hours to go until the NHL trade deadline, the New York Rangers have officially held Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick out of tonight’s lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs for "roster management" purposes. It is the clearest signal yet that Chris Drury is in the final stages of a deal, and the Rangers' roster is about to look very different by the time they take the ice again.

Trocheck hasn't generated offers Rangers are looking for, but there's no reason to play him

With the deadline on Friday, the Rangers are playing it safe keeping Trocheck out of the lineup. To this point they've tried hard to move him, and based on Emily Kaplan of ESPN's reporting, this move could be more about protecting an asset.

If the Rangers don't get the offer they want by Friday, they technically have the leverage to hold onto Trocheck and revisit a trade before the draft or during the summer. In July, his 12-team no-trade clause shifts to a 10-team list, which would theoretically open up the field slightly for a summer move.

But banking on a better deal later is a dangerous game. Letting this situation linger would be a massive letdown for a fanbase that is expecting a clear direction from this front office. Beyond that, the math on his value just doesn't look as favorable in a few months, as Trocheck will have one less year on his deal, and will be just a little bit older by the time next year's playoffs come around.

Trocheck has appeared in 46 games this season, and in those game he's scored 12 goals and added 27 assists for 39 points averaging 20:52 a night. Since joining the Rangers, Trocheck has 85 goals, 154 assists, and 239 points in 292 games.

Carrick a veteran forward who could net the Rangers a nice return

The trade market for depth pieces has been active over the last 48 hours, and Carrick is a classic plug-and-play asset for a contender looking to round out their bottom six. At just $1 million per season, he is a cost-effective, low-risk acquisition that won’t break a team’s cap structure.

While offense hasn't been his primary calling card during his stint in New York, he’s posted 10 goals and 20 assists in 140 games, it’s worth noting that his role has shifted significantly from his time in Anaheim. In his 205-game run with the Ducks, he produced 46 points (25 goals, 21 assists), showing that if the situation calls for it, he has the capacity to be more than just a defensive specialist. He certainly can do that too, as he's won 53.9 percent of his faceoffs this season, and won 54.2 percent of faceoffs for New York last season.

For some context, here are some depth forwards that have already been completed, and it is fair to say Carrick's overall body of work makes him a decent comparable.

• Michael McCarron: Acquired by Minnesota Wild for 2028 second-round pick
• Warren Foegele: Acquired by Ottawa Senators for a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional 2026 third-round pick
• Nicolas Roy: Acquired by the Colorado Avalanche for a 2027 conditional first and a 2026 conditional fifth-round pick
• Nic Dowd: Acquired by Vegas Golden Knights for goaltender Jesper Vikman, 2027 third-round pick, and 2029 second-round pick

Carrick fits right into this tier of reliable, inexpensive, and versatile players. He isn't going to light up the highlight reels, but for a team looking to add a professional, hard-working piece to their rotation before the deadline passes tomorrow, he’s exactly the kind of player who makes a fourth line difficult to play against.