NHL Rumors: Western Conference Team Made Trade Offer For Vincent Trocheck
Elliotte Friedman reported Los Angeles still wants a true middle of the ice driver, and the Kings even tried to get New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck included in the Panarin negotiations.
Kings interest in Vincent Trocheck won’t go away
Trocheck, 32, checks every box for a contender trying to get nastier down the middle.
He’s producing again this season with 36 points in 43 games, and he’s coming off a four-year Rangers run where he’s been trusted in big minutes and big moments.
"Panarin’s arrival does not diminish the Kings’ desire for a centre. There were reports they tried to add Vincent Trocheck to this deal. I can’t speak to that, but word is Trocheck prefers to stay East" ... "Detroit, by the way, went hard at Trocheck when he was a UFA"
Friedman added the hang-up right now is Trocheck’s preference to remain in the Eastern Conference, which matters with the control he has via his trade protection.
During his time in New York, dating back to the 2022-23 season, Trocheck has recorded 85 goals, 236 total points, 701 hits, and an impressive 57.9 faceoff percentage across 289 games played. He's having another strong year in the faceoff circle, holding a 56.5% right now, which adds a lot of value to his game, especially for teams that are weak in that area and looking ahead to their playoff chances.
Trocheck’s contract makes him a deadline chess piece
This is also why his name is going to stick near the top of the board leading into the March 6 deadline.
Trocheck is signed to a $5.625 million AAV deal and has a 12-team no-trade list this season, giving him real influence over where this goes next.
The Kings, Hurricanes, Wild, Jets & Mammoth are among the teams that have been linked to Vincent Trocheck, per @TFP. pic.twitter.com/VExkjZWn5f
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) January 30, 2026
Friedman also noted the Detroit Red Wings once chased him hard in free agency before the Rangers won the bidding, and that kind of history tends to resurface when a player like this becomes even remotely available.
Photo Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
