NHL Rumors: Vincent Trochek More Valuable Than Artemi Panarin?

Friday, January 30, 2026
New York Rangers forwards Vincent Trocheck & Artemi Panarin celebrate goal during 2025 game.

The New York Rangers’ sell-off chatter has (somehow) moved past just Artemi Panarin. 

Frank Seravalli’s recent take is that Vincent Trocheck might actually be the more valuable deadline piece. 

His logic is that Panarin is the bigger star, but he’s a pure rental with a full no-move clause and a massive cap number, which narrows the market fast. Trocheck is a playoff-style center, signed for multiple seasons at a far easier hit, and that kind of cost certainty can make GMs do reckless things in February.

Vincent Trocheck’s contract is the cheat code

Panarin still drives the headline, because his production is still elite and teams love adding a game-breaker for one run. 

But the Rangers can’t control much here: Panarin’s no-move gives him leverage over destination, and any contender has to jam in a big cap hit for a player they might only have for a few months. 

Panarin has put up 19 goals and 57 total points across 52 games played this season.

Trocheck is the opposite. 

He’s under control at $5.625M through 2028–29 with a limited no-trade list, and he plays the premium position that’s always in short supply at the deadline.

This season, the 32-year-old has recorded 11 goals, 33 total points, a -17 plus/minus rating, and is averaging 20:56 time on ice across 40 games played.

Pure Talent vs Deadline Value

If the Rangers are truly retooling, Trocheck is the kind of asset that can bring back real futures without the rental discount. He’s still producing at a strong clip this season, he wins draws in the mid-50s, and he’s the annoying, two-way, matchup-friendly center contenders love to give big minutes to when games get tight. 

If you’re ranking pure talent, Panarin is the prize. But if you’re ranking deadline value in the real NHL economy, Seravalli’s point lands.

Photo Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

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