Vincent Trocheck, Rangers Reportedly Agree to 7-Year Contract with $5.6M AAV

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJuly 13, 2022

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 30: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes warms up prior to Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers on May 30, 2022 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images

The New York Rangers have reportedly signed former Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $5.6 million, according to multiple reports.

Trocheck, 29, became one of the top options at center in free agency this summer after scoring six goals and adding four assists in 14 postseason games for the Canes this past season.

The veteran center has never replicated his excellent 2017-18 season with the Florida Panthers that saw him easily hit career highs in goals (31) and assists (44) while appearing in all 82 regular-season contests.

Shayna @hayyyshayyy
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a> may hope that Trocheck reuniting with Gallant keeps him on path to match a comp like Stastny, but the last two years of that contract probably won't be great regardless. <a href="https://t.co/tR58z5vtTU">pic.twitter.com/tR58z5vtTU</a>

Brian Monzo @BMonzoRadio
We can all admit now that the Rangers got by the Pens and Canes mostly because of Igor Shesterkin, which is fine — but changes needed to happen up front. Strome had limitations and Copp overachieved. Time for some new blood. Love the Trocheck signing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGR</a>

Mike Grinnell @MikeGrinnell_
Rangers fans will love Trocheck

Linda Cohn @lindacohn
Fantastic upgrade by the <a href="https://twitter.com/NYRangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYRangers</a> signing <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Trocheck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@V_Trocheck</a> to be the team’s Number 2 center to play alongside Artemi Panarin. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoQuitInNY?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoQuitInNY</a>

But he had his best season since that benchmark this past year for the Canes, posting 21 goals and 30 assists in 81 games, before following it up with a fantastic postseason. The Rangers got a first-hand view of Trocheck's play, defeating the Hurricanes in seven games during the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Whether signing him to that many years was smart business, especially with some other needs on the roster, is another question.

Joe Fortunato @JoeFortunatoBSB
Trocheck is EXACTLY the type of player the Rangers needed to target and wanted to upgrade the team. The AAV is fine, the years is horrific, especially with everything else that has to come behind it. Also, the Rangers need to find space somewhere.

Vince Z. Mercogliano @vzmercogliano
Needless to say, barring a trade to clear space, this will make it very difficult to re-sign Motte or make any other one-way signings. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYR</a>

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

But the Rangers needed to upgrade up the middle, and Trocheck had his best years with the Florida Panthers under head coach Gerard Gallant, who is now calling shots for New York.

Trocheck will win faceoffs at a solid clip (51.2 percent for his career), add some grit in the middle and has the potential to be a solid point producer. The Rangers made a major splash to land him, but they also addressed a huge need in the process.