The New York Rangers have one more day remaining until the trade deadline. General Manager Chris Drury's next chance to prove to fans that he can lead a retool is by getting a substantial trade return for center Vincent Trocheck. The veteran plays a position of need for plenty of playoff contenders, can win face-offs, and kill penalties. Plus, he's under contract for three more years.
Three teams have been heavily linked to Trocheck — the Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, and Carolina Hurricanes. Trocheck has let it be known that he prefers to stay on the East coast. But there is another team to potentially keep an eye on.
The Athletic's Rangers reporter Vince Mercogliano brought up the trade market for Trocheck, and openly asked if the Buffalo Sabres could be a "mystery team" for the center.
Could the Sabres be a dark horse team for Vincent Trocheck?
"The Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings are others we’ve had our eye on, but I also wonder about a mystery team such as the Buffalo Sabres, writes Mercogliano. "Colleague Chris Johnston called them 'a potential dark horse team that could spice up this trade deadline.'"
The Athletic NHL insider Chris Johnston has said that the expectation is that the Sabres could shake up the trade deadline. The Sabres have been on fire since December, and are on pace to end their 14-season playoff drought. Plus, they have shown this week they are willing to go all-out to improve their roster.
Earlier this week, TSN's Darren Dreger reported that the Sabres were in talks with the St. Louis Blues for center Robert Thomas. Johnston added that the Sabres offered "the equivalent of multiple first-rounders." The Blues have had most of their roster on the trade block before this Friday's deadline, but held a high asking price for Thomas. Thomas is 26-years-old, the Blues' top scorer, and is under contract through the 2030-31 season.
But on Wednesday, Dreger reported that the talks between the Sabres and Blues centering around Thomas were essentially dead. The Blues still maintained their high asking price, which the Sabres were apprehensive about meeting.
With the Sabres now out on Thomas, would they pivot to Trocheck? He is the top center available in terms of attainability. Thus far, there has been no reporting that the Sabres are pursuing or interested into Trocheck. But considering the Sabres were willing to swing big at Thomas, another one of the top centers at the deadline, it does make you think if they would pivot to Trocheck. Plus, a trade to Buffalo would fit Trocheck's desire to remain on the East Coast.
The Sabres would have a bit of a clear path to get Trocheck, as the Wild, who were heavily linked to him, appear to be backing off of their pursuit. The Athletic's Michael Russo and Joe Smith reported that the Wild's hopes of landing Trocheck are "fading," as the believe they are unable to meet the Rangers' high asking price.
The next 24 hours will be interesting for the Rangers. Will Trocheck find a new team or will he remain with the Rangers for the rest of this season?