The New York Rangers let it be known earlier this year that they were going to enter a retool. At that time, it was evident that Vincent Trocheck would be the subject of trade rumors, considering he played a position of value at center, while also thriving on special teams. It took around six months since general manager Chris Drury sent out a letter declaring his plan to retool the Rangers, for Trocheck to get traded.
Trocheck is now with the Utah Mammoth, and the Rangers received defenseman Sean Durzi, forward prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round pick. Carrying a partial no-move clause, Trocheck approved of the trade to Utah, where he said he is looking forward to joining a Mammoth team that can win, who made the playoffs this past season.
It won't be long until the Rangers host Trocheck in his first game back at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers take on the Mammoth in New York on Oct. 4. Yes, we have a revenge game early on for the Rangers right at the start of the new season.
Vincent Trocheck returns to New York on Oct. 4
Yes, it was no secret that the Rangers were looking to move Trocheck both at the deadline and the offseason. There were multiple reports that leading up to his eventual trade, the Rangers had a high asking price for him. Sportnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed recently that the Rangers actually contemplated keeping Trocheck heading into next season, but ultimately, both sides felt it was time to move on.
It certainly helped that the Rangers received what they felt was a strong offer from the Mammoth to facilitate a trade. They get a puck moving defenseman in Durzi and shore up their prospect pipeline with Beaudoin. But for Trocheck, he joins a team that is expecting to make a run at the playoffs and the Stanley Cup. Hence why he was willing to move over to Utah after initial reports indicated he wanted to stay on the East Coast.
This won't be a revenge game, considering how highly Trocheck spoke of the Rangers. In an Instagram post, Trocheck thanked the Rangers staff and his teammates for his four years in New York.
"To the Rangers staff, the unsung heroes, thank you all. For everything you did for me on a daily basis," wrote Trocheck. "And finally to my teammates. I'm so grateful for the last four years with you. From the on ice excitement, to the endless guys trips. Couldn't be luckier to have been able to be a part of your dressing room. Love ya."
So it's nothing but love for Trocheck and the Rangers. But by giving up Trocheck, they did shore up their defense. But, their forward depth leaves a lot to be desired. Even with the additions of Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand, the do have a vacant spot in the middle six of the forward depth chart. Trocheck did a bit of everything, whether it was scoring goals, winning face-offs, and killing penalties. It is going to be difficult to replace him, especially from a production standpoint.
The Rangers have time to add another forward this offseason before training camp. But if Trocheck scores in his return to New York, there will undoubtedly be questions about whether or not Drury made the right choice to trade him away instead of keeping him on the roster.
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