Rangers Trade Rumors: Vincent Trocheck Projected To Land With Central Division Contender

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck looks on from the bench

At this point, nearly half the teams in the NHL have been linked to top New York Rangers trade candidate Vincent Trocheck. We looked at 10 of his best fits earlier this week.

But insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic has made a specific projection for the Rangers center's next destination. With the serious three-team battle going on in the Central Division—and for Trocheck's services—Johnston predicts the Minnesota Wild will win the sweepstakes for the two-way center.

There’s no mystery about how Wild GM Bill Guerin feels about Trocheck after selecting him to join Team USA for two best-on-best tournaments in the past 14 months. And there’s no doubt about how seamlessly Trocheck fits Minnesota’s needs as it tries to find its way out of the NHL’s deepest division.

Ever since dealing Marco Rossi as part of the blockbuster Quinn Hughes trade, the Wild have been laser-focused on finding a top-six center to add to their big push to truly contend for the Stanley Cup this season. Just getting out of the Central will be a tall order, what with the likes of the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars also battling for division supremacy.

Wild need Trocheck for themselves—and to keep him away from Central rivals

The addition of Trocheck (and keeping him away from the Avs and Stars) may be the final ingredient to push them over the top.

Johnston points to the pivot's abilities as a face-off man and his leadership off the ice as specific talents that make Trocheck extra-appealing for the Wild.

The insider admits, however, that cobbling together an elite mix of assets to satisfy the Rangers, especially after what they gave up in the Quinn trade, might be difficult for the Wild. But he's not putting anything past the Minny GM at this point.

"Guerin has shown an ability to get things done. He’s certainly not shy about taking a big swing...

"Guerin’s decisions with USA Hockey already tell us that (Trocheck is) a player he believes you can win with."