In case you missed it, Wednesday brought a massive trade ahead of the 18-day roster freeze for the Olympics. As many had anticipated, the Rangers traded Artemi Panarin, but the deal itself was a bit of a shocker. Panarin was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings for prospect Liam Greentree, a conditional 3rd-round pick, and a conditional 4th-round pick.
On paper, this return looks a bit small for a Top 10 winger in the NHL whose scoring prowess is widely recognized. Greentree was the Kings' top prospect, and he has impressed in the OHL, but there's no guarantee that he'll ever perform at the level Panarin did in New York. The same goes for the draft picks, which could turn out to be anything. It's also possible this trade ages better than expected.
While it didn't look great for the Rangers, the trade from the Hurricanes' and every other contender in the Eastern Conference's perspective was outstanding. He's one less player to worry about for the stretch run. However, it might also bode well for those teams looking to make deals with the Rangers once the freeze melts away. That's where Vincent Trocheck comes in.
One of the most important things about the Panarin debacle once it ended was the revelation that Los Angeles was the only team that he was willing to be traded to, despite reports that Carolina and numerous other teams were interested. Panarin had this leverage because of the No-Movement Clause in his contract. Trocheck had one, but he now has a 12-team no-trade list instead.
What does this mean for the Hurricanes?
Most will agree that the Hurricanes' most desired area of improvement would be a second-line center to play behind Sebastian Aho. Many also believe that there are fewer players more perfect for that spot than Trocheck. For starters, we've seen it work in the past. The Canes acquired Trocheck at the 2020 trade deadline from the Panthers, and he played very well in the two seasons that followed.
He used this to net a big contract with the Rangers, reaching new heights. He set a new career-high in points in 2023-24 (77), anchored by a personal-best 52 assists. While his point total dipped last season, he actually scored one more goal. This season, injuries have hampered his time on the ice, but Trocheck would be playing at a 70-point pace if he'd been healthy.
With the Rangers falling out of contention this season, Panarin could be the first major domino to fall, not to slight Carson Soucy, who was traded to the Islanders last Monday. Panarin is easily the Rangers' best forward. Therefore, he should've netted the largest return, which should mean that a package for Trocheck may be easier to put together.
The situation isn't 1-for-1, though. Panarin is 34 years old and was a pending free agent before signing an extension with the Kings on Wednesday. Trocheck is 32 years old, plays a premium position that he produces in, and, most importantly, is signed for three more years at a manageable $5.625 million per season. This alone could mean that Trocheck fetches more than Panarin.
What might a trade for Trocheck look like now?
The Rangers have a little more flexibility in their options if they want to trade Trocheck. He can still be sent to 19 of the 31 remaining teams in the league. I doubt that the Hurricanes are on his no-trade list, and the front office has expressed its interest in bringing Trocheck back in, according to several insiders.
There is no world in which Bradly Nadeau or Alexander Nikishin should be remotely involved. I could see them being used to get someone like Elias Pettersson or Robert Thomas, but not for Trocheck. I put Jayden Perron as a potential prospect that could be moved. I had Ryan Suzuki and Justin Robidas there, too, but age and size, respectively, might not make them appealing to the Rangers.
Many will want to throw Jesperi Kotkaniemi into any potential deal with the Rangers. Obviously, it makes sense to replace a center with another center. Assuming no money is retained by either party, Kotkaniemi makes $805k less than Trocheck, and his contract lasts one more season. The Rangers will have plenty of cap space, but Kotkaniemi might not be worth it to them.
Another thing the Hurricanes lack is immediate draft capital. They own Dallas' 1st-round pick this season, which will likely be in the 20s or 30s, but they don't have another pick until San Jose's 4th-round pick to go with two 6th-rounders. However, they own their full collection of picks next season with an additional 3rd, which is also Dallas'.
I see this working out in one of two ways. If the return centers around Kotkaniemi, I can see the Canes pushing for nothing more than a mid-to-low tier prospect and a 4th- or 5th-round pick to be added. If Kotkaniemi isn't involved in the trade, it might take a little more. It could easily be two prospects and a conditional 3rd-round pick. Honestly, I'm just throwing something out there and hoping it sticks.
It's anyone's guess how the market will look when teams can trade again after the pause. I think a lot of teams are going to be busting down the Rangers' door to try and trade for Vincent Trocheck, and the Canes will be right in line. I think Carolina has plenty to offer the Rangers, and the two have partnered plenty of times recently. The fit is there. It's on the two sides to work it out.