Maple Leafs Linked To Gold Medal Winning Center
Analytics reigns supreme in the Toronto Maple Leafs front office.
The ascent of general manager John Chayka has infused the organization with new blood and a new outlook. For better or worse, it has yet to be determined, as they're going through growing pains.
Firing coach Craig Berube and taking a different path.
According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs new direction could find them looking within their own division to find one player who solves their playoff woes.
“We know that New York is trying to get off the contract of Trocheck. Toronto is among the teams that have interest, for sure,” Dreger said.
Darren Dreger on OverDrive says the Maple Leafs are showing interest in acquiring F Vincent Trocheck in the offseason.
— The Mug NHL (@TheMugNHL) May 14, 2026
Trocheck is a proven playoff performer and a former 70-point centerman in the New York Rangers system. He's suffered through three coaching changes from Gerard Gallant, Peter Laviolette, and now Mike Sullivan.
Instead of complaining, Trocheck went to work to help the Rangers make a push to the postseason again, but failed.
“Once the trade deadline was over, it was just kind of for that stuff to be like, it's done for now,” Trocheck said. “I can just play hockey and my family can kind of relax. If something does happen in the summer, we at least have some to figure some stuff out. It was more to see what we had as a team after the deadline, going into the summer and trying to get the young guys acclimated. Just trying to see what we have I guess.”
Can The Rangers Finalize A Trade For Trocheck in the Future?
The team that won the President's Trophy in 2023-24 fell to 34-39-9 and 8th in the Atlantic after general manager Chris Drury tore the team down, sending veteran talent across the NHL (including Chris Kreider, whose tenure was 13 years as a Blueshirt).
Could GM Chris Drury find a way to restock the talent pipeline by moving another top forward?
It could help their cause, after whiffing on interest for Trocheck at the deadline, as it appears their ask might've been too high.
From chatter around the NHL trade deadline, the price tag the New York Rangers set for Trocheck was astronomical. The conversation started with a first-round pick and a high-end prospect
Trocheck is a former gold medal winner in this year's Olympics in Milan, Italy, and scored 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games as a Ranger. Given the state of the Maple Leafs at the moment, it might not hurt to circle back in July.
Trocheck has three years left on his $5.625 million average annual value deal he signed in 2022-23.
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