Vincent Trocheck has been awaiting a trade call for weeks.
Minus the 18-day Olympic roster freeze, the Rangers center has anticipated it ever since president and general manager Chris Drury announced his “retooling” plans on Jan. 16. At 32 and with 13 years of NHL experience, Trocheck is not naive, nor is he a stranger to his current circumstance.
He spoke about it like a hardened veteran Monday morning, before the Blueshirts take on the Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden.
He spoke about it with conviction, brazenly acknowledging rumors, his prerequisites for a trade and preferences.
“Well, I do want to be on a good team,” Trocheck said after morning skate on Monday, with the trade deadline looming Friday at 3 p.m. “If I’m going to get traded, if it’s to a team that’s in the same situation as us, then I don’t want to move. Yeah, that sounds miserable in a new city. And I am 32 years old, I would like to win a Stanley Cup. So if I am going to get traded, I would like to go to a team that’s winning or has a chance to win.”
Trocheck confirmed he has a 12-team no-trade list.
He confirmed there are mostly West Coast clubs on it.
As a Pittsburgh native, Trocheck is looking to stay as close to the East Coast as he can for the sake of his family.
“I’m sure you’re relating to the ‘I don’t want to be out west’ talk on Instagram or Twitter or whatever,” he said. “And, yeah, it’s not a secret. They are on my no-trade clause. Family is important to me and my family is on the east coast.”
Trocheck has been heavily linked to the Minnesota Wild since the “For Sale” sign went up at MSG.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin has a penchant for players like Trocheck, and Minnesota is looking to bolster for a playoff run after giving up a haul to acquire Quinn Hughes on an expiring contract.
The decision to name Trocheck and fellow Ranger J.T. Miller to the United States men’s Olympic hockey team gave Guerin the most grief, but the two proved him right in a perfect penalty-killing role on the way to a gold medal. It likely only reaffirmed Guerin’s interest in Trocheck.
In addition to a first-round pick in 2027, Minnesota has a couple of top-tier prospects to offer in center Charlie Stramel and left-handed defenseman Carson Lambos.
If the east is where Trocheck prefers to stay, other teams that make sense include the Hurricanes and the Red Wings. A return to Carolina would be intriguing. The Canes, who were leading the entire Eastern Conference going into Monday’s slate of games, could reacquire Trocheck at a price point they wouldn’t give him themselves — unless the Rangers retain salary.
The Avalanche could also be a fit if Trocheck is willing to go a little further from home for a shot at the Stanley Cup.
Trocheck noted that Drury has been “open and honest with me and transparent” throughout the process.
As experienced as he is in this situation, however, navigating his young children’s feelings is new.
“The only difference maybe this time around is obviously I have kids,” Trocheck said. “They hear a lot of stuff at school. So it’s just kind of managing their emotions about everything. Trying to get them prepared. I have to tell my son like, ‘Hey, there’s a chance that we’re not here.’ So that takes some time to talk to him about that and get him accustomed to that feeling. I’ve been doing this my whole life. If I get traded, I’m fine. I’m not worried about myself, I’m more worried about my family.”
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