Evaluating a potential Maple Leafs’ trade offer for Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck

The Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers could be doing business together this summer.

Multiple reports have surfaced stating the Rangers are expected to once again listen on trade offers on two-way centre, Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck was involved in a wealth of trade conversations throughout this past season, and was even pulled from the lineup for ‘roster management’ decisions leading up the trade deadline, however, Rangers general manager Chris Drury didn’t find an offer he was happy with, and Trocheck remained with the team to finish the year.

Now, trade talks are expected to pick up in a major way leading up to the NHL Draft next month in Buffalo, and don’t be surprised to see the Maple Leafs make a serious offer, as John Chayka is certainly looking to upgrade down the middle of the Maple Leafs’ ice. It sounds like in an ideal world, John Tavares is playing third-line center, and someone like Trocheck would be the perfect fit behind Auston Matthews, and occupy the two hole.

So, what could the Maple Leafs offer to Drury to land Trocheck? Will their offer compete with other teams looking to upgrade at center ice? Chayka has some options and perhaps could get Drury to bite with this package.

Trade Proposal: Rangers send Trocheck to Maple Leafs for Nick Robertson, Artur Akhtyamov, Jacob Quillan, and 2026 second-round pick.

Admittedly, it’s going to be hard for the Leafs to land Trocheck just based on their trade offers are likely more based on quantity, than quality. Robertson and Quillan can immediately jump into the Rangers’ lineup next season up front and give Drury a scoring winger and an up-and-coming defensive-minded center for their bottom six. New York is also in the market for a new backup goaltender, and adding the 24-year-old Akhtyamov makes a ton of sense for them to tandem up with one of his mentors, fellow Russian, Igor Shesterkin.

Akhtyamov inked a three-year extension for just $900,000 and has shown some serious potential to develop into a very serviceable NHL goaltender, so he does hold some of the most trade value of anyone on the Leafs’ roster. Robertson’s someone who is looking for a change of scenery and with Gavin McKenna likely on route, Robertson’s become expendable, to say the very least. He has sustainable 20-goal potential, so Drury could have some interest to take a flyer, and see if they can tap into his untapped potential.

Trocheck is going to be one of the biggest trade targets on several team’s radars this summer, as he’s a big-game player, who can play in all situations, while being a force on both sides of the puck. He brings some ‘bite’ to the table, which was something both Auston Matthews and William Nylander asked for more of at their exit interviews, and at just $5.6 million AAV for three more seasons, Trocheck’s contract is certainly one of the most attractive parts of his entire ‘trade package’. He owns a 10-team no-trade list, but there’s been speculation he’s open to staying in the Eastern Conference, so these two teams could work their way to a deal leading into free agency.

Will the Rangers receive stronger offers than the one suggested? Likely, yes. Could Chayka add some more value to it, with say Ben Danford? Potentially, of course, and considering how much of a perfect fit Trocheck is for the Maple Leafs’ roster, Chayka would be wise to pony up to Drury’s demands and pull the trigger on his first blockbuster trade as Toronto’s GM.

Trade Proposal: Rangers send Trocheck to Maple Leafs for Nick Robertson, Artur Akhtyamov, Jacob Quillan, and 2026 second-round pick.

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