With the NHL trade deadline still a few weeks out, teams are already feeling the pressure thanks to the looming Olympic break. That pause brings with it a roster freeze, and for general managers across the league, it’s become a soft deadline of sorts - a checkpoint where moves are getting made now to avoid scrambling later.
One of the biggest chips on the board, defenseman Rasmus Andersson, has already been moved to Vegas. And with that deal done, the focus is shifting - fast.
Enter the Minnesota Wild.
GM Bill Guerin has already made one splash by acquiring Quinn Hughes, bolstering the blue line in a big way. But he’s not done.
Now, the Wild are turning their attention to the forward group, and specifically, they’re eyeing help down the middle. They’re in the market for a top-six center - and it just so happens that the New York Rangers might be open for business.
According to The Sheet with Jeff Marek, there’s growing chatter that Minnesota has at least checked in on Vincent Trocheck. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period connected the dots on Friday’s episode, and honestly, the fit makes a lot of sense.
“We know that Minny is not afraid to continue to make moves. Billy Guerin has been very active,” Pagnotta said.
“Before the Hughes trade, he was looking at a second-line type of player, top-six type of guy. That hasn’t really stopped.”
The Wild are clearly still in shopping mode, and Trocheck checks a lot of boxes. He’s a proven, two-way center who can handle big minutes and chip in offensively. Through 35 games this season, the 32-year-old has 11 goals and 29 points - solid production, especially considering the Rangers’ overall struggles.
Now, the contract isn’t nothing. Trocheck is signed through the 2028-29 season with a $5.625 million AAV.
That’s a long commitment, and while he should still be productive in the near term, the back end of the deal could get tricky. But in the short term?
He’s exactly the kind of player Minnesota could use to stabilize their top six and give them more punch in the middle of the ice.
The Wild are in a tough spot right now - injuries have piled up, and they’ve had to rely on veterans like Mats Zuccarello to keep them afloat. Zuccarello came through in a big way recently, netting the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory over the Sabres that snapped a losing skid.
But if Minnesota wants to make a real push, they’ll need more than just timely heroics. They need depth.
They need experience. And they need someone who can drive play from the center position.
That’s where Trocheck could come in.
Minnesota has spent years building out a strong pipeline of defensemen, investing draft capital and assets to stack their blue line for the future. Now, it’s time to leverage some of that depth and start addressing the other side of the puck. Guerin has shown he’s not afraid to make bold moves - and with the Olympic break fast approaching, the clock is ticking.
There’s still a lot of hockey to be played, and the playoff picture is far from set. But if the Rangers are truly waving the white flag, and the Wild are serious about making a run, don’t be surprised if this connection between Trocheck and Minnesota turns into something real.
The pieces are there. It’s just a matter of whether Guerin wants to pull the trigger - and whether the Rangers are ready to deal.