Rangers coach ‘thrilled to have’ Vincent Trocheck after trade deadline passed
Mike Sullivan emphatically let it be known where he stands about Vincent Trocheck remaining with the New York Rangers after the just-completed NHL Trade Deadline.
“Right now, ‘Troch’ is a New York Ranger, and we’re thrilled to have him,” the coach said Saturday before their game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
With the Rangers in a retool and looking to beef up the organization with young NHL talent, Trocheck topped nearly every trade board ahead of the deadline. But the 32-year-old center ultimately wasn’t traded because general manager Chris Drury had a seriously high asking price that no team was willing to meet.
“It didn’t make any sense to do something just to say we did it, or to do something just because we wrote a letter,” Drury told reporters Friday night, making a reference to his public proclamation in mid-January about the Rangers plans moving forward.
Trocheck seemed at peace with the likelihood he’d be traded, when speaking with the media earlier in the week. His biggest concern was how a potential trade would upset his family. And Trocheck stated that he wanted to go to a Stanley Cup contender, and would block any deal to a West Coast team, since those clubs are on his 12-team no-trade clause.
“He’s been terrific. He’s such a good pro. He’s a great person, he’s a great leader, and he’s a terrific hockey player,” Sullivan stated. “I think he’s done a really good job under difficult circumstances, just trying to navigate through it.”
For many days — weeks, really — it appeared the Minnesota Wild would land Trocheck. But in the end, Drury’s ask was too much for their liking and they pivoted the past couple days. Reportedly, the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Detroit Red Wings also had interest.
But instead of swinging a deal, the Rangers held on to Trocheck, who has three years after this one remaining on a contract that pays him $5.625 million annually.
And Sullivan’s good with that. Though he understands the popular veteran still could be traded this upcoming offseason.
“I know how much we value Troch and what he brings to this team,” Sullivan explained. “If Chris were going to make a deal, it was going to be because he was going to put the organization in a better position moving forward.
“Troch and I have had a number of conversations over the last three weeks — as had ‘Dru’ and Troch. So, I think everyone is very much on the same page with where this thing is at, where it could potentially go.”
For now, these final 21 games of the 2025-26 season, Trocheck is a member of the New York Rangers. After that, all bets are off. But their coach will take that, for sure.
