The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing with the Conference Finals underway, but that doesn't mean that there isn't other news happening involving the teams who are sitting at home. Frank Seravalli just released his initial Trade Targets Big Board, and one top name featured is New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.
Trocheck ranked fifth overall
The Rangers' top-six center has three years left on his contract that pays $5.635 million a season, and he just finished a season in which he tallied 53 points in 67 games while also winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.
Many expected the Rangers to move Trocheck at the deadline, fair to say that the veteran forwarded expected a move as well, but he ultimately remained in New York. A number of teams are likely to have interest in his services this summer, partially because it is a relatively weak class for free agents.
While he was fifth on Seravalli's list, he was the top ranked center, partially because of his contract and expected availability. He isn't better than Robert Thomas, 13th on his list, but he is more available and attainable than the St. Louis Blues star young forward.
Best time to move Trocheck is before the draft
Ideally, the Rangers will use the next couple of weeks to get a better sense of what Trocheck's market is, as well as get a firm grasp on which teams he is unwilling to go to. Draft compensation remains a key piece of any return for him, and the team will lose negotiating leverage if they hold onto Trocheck once the draft has come.
At that point other teams would have made big moves, and there would be less urgency to push for a deal. It also would become a situation in which teams try to address their needs in free agency first, and then potentially circle back to Trocheck and the Rangers.
There remains a small chance that Trocheck returns, but it feels like the team senses the need to move on. Trocheck himself wants to win a Stanley Cup, and there's a good chance that even a Rangers squad that improves this offseason will still be less of a contender than what he's looking for.
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