NEW YORK — The battle for Vincent Trocheck could be the headline move of NHL trade deadline day.
The New York Rangers center has quickly become one of the hottest names on the market, and two Eastern Conference contenders appear to be leading the charge: the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes. Both clubs are reportedly pushing hard to land the veteran pivot as they gear up for a potential Stanley Cup run.
Detroit has already checked in on Trocheck as it looks to strengthen its center depth for the playoff push, while Carolina sees him as a natural fit thanks to his strong two-way play and familiarity with the organization from his previous stint with the Hurricanes.
Trocheck, a proven faceoff specialist and penalty killer, is widely viewed as one of the most valuable players still available before Friday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline.
Now the question is simple: Will Detroit win the bidding war, or will Carolina bring a familiar face back to Raleigh?
One thing is certain — the Trocheck sweepstakes could go down to the wire.
