New York Rangers Shift Focus to Vincent Trocheck After Panarin Trade
In a significant roster shake-up, the New York Rangers have traded star forward Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings and are now preparing for their next major move, with speculations strongly suggesting that center Vincent Trocheck is the club's prime trade candidate. As the NHL enforces a roster freeze until February 23, no official trades can be completed at this moment, but the Rangers' strategy is becoming clear.
Details of the Artemi Panarin Trade
The Rangers executed the Panarin trade just before the roster freeze took effect. The Los Angeles Kings acquired the NHL star forward with a two-year, $22 million contract, as confirmed by the NHL on Thursday. Panarin, who is in the final year of his seven-year, $81.5 million contract with an average annual value of $11.64 million, was exchanged for forward prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This move marks a pivotal step in the Rangers' ongoing retooling efforts.
Vincent Trocheck Emerges as Top Trade Asset
With Panarin now in Los Angeles, attention has turned to Vincent Trocheck as the Rangers' next high-profile player likely to be traded. Multiple reports confirm that Trocheck is the team's top trade asset post-Panarin, with General Manager Chris Drury setting a high asking price for the center. The speculation has intensified during the roster freeze, with insiders suggesting that Trocheck could fetch a package exceeding the return from the Panarin deal.
Insights from NHL Analysts on Trade Interest
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period provided key insights during an interview on Sirius XM NHL Network with Steve Kouleas and Nate Thompson. He stated, "The focus now shifts to some of their other assets, and Trocheck is somebody that's generating a lot of interest from a lot of teams. Carolina is in that mix. Maybe that's where they shift. I think Minnesota is on his radar or he's on Minnesota's radar. There are a few others." This indicates that several teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, are actively pursuing Trocheck.
Pagnotta further discussed other players on the Rangers' roster, noting that defenseman Braden Schneider is also attracting interest, with the San Jose Sharks among the suitors. However, he clarified that goalie Igor Shesterkin and blueliner Adam Fox appear to be off-limits in trade discussions. "But you've got him, you have Braden Schneider, who's generating a lot of interest. San Jose has had interest in him. There are other players on this team that I think they are willing to listen on outside of, the indication that I've gotten primarily has been, Igor (Shesterkin) is not going anywhere, Adam Fox isn't going anywhere. They'd be willing to listen on just about everybody else," he added.
Rangers' Broader Retooling Strategy
This trade activity is part of a broader retooling strategy by the Rangers, who have been struggling in the Eastern Conference. Last week, the team traded another high-impact player, Carson Soucy, to the New York Islanders for a third-round pick. The moves signal a clear intent to reshape the roster for future competitiveness. While the Panarin trade brought in a prospect and conditional picks, the potential deal for Trocheck is expected to yield even greater value, highlighting his importance in the market.
As the NHL roster freeze continues until February 23, the Rangers are poised to make further moves once it lifts, with Vincent Trocheck at the center of their trade plans. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how this strategy unfolds in the coming weeks.
