Vincent Trocheck checks a lot of boxes that make him an intriguing and arguably ideal trade target for the Minnesota Wild, especially considering his age, cap hit, and position.
Trocheck is in his age-32 season, making him intriguing for the Wild. He’s still in his prime. Still, he’s old enough that the trade cost may be lower than a younger, similarly productive center.
For Minnesota, the next three to four years align with Kirill Kaprizov and several emerging players’ best years. They finally have real cap flexibility after the restrictive buyout penalties for Ryan Suter and Zach Parise fall almost completely off the books.
Adding a 32-year-old who has shown he can handle top-six minutes, match up against good opponents, and play in every situation would complement that timeline rather than limit it. Trocheck is experienced enough to stabilize the middle of the ice, but not so old that you are obviously buying only decline years.
Trocheck is in the middle of a seven-year deal he signed with the New York Rangers in July 2022 and carries a cap hit of 5.625 million through the 2028-29 season. Top-six centers often make more than $7 to 8 million per year, so that number is relatively team-friendly for a player who can drive play, produce 50 to 60 points, and anchor a power-play unit.
Structurally, the deal is also manageable. The cap charge remains flat at $5.625 million, and as the league’s upper limit continues to rise, that slice of the pie shrinks in percentage terms each year. The Wild are in a much better financial position heading into 2025-26 and beyond. Their current cap hit is projected at just over $91 million, with a $95.5 million ceiling. More room is expected as the cap grows and dead money declines.
Locking in a known quantity at center for a mid-tier number could be exactly the type of “big swing” their improved cap situation allows. The risk is term. Trocheck’s contract runs until his age-35 season, and there is always a chance the end becomes inefficient. But because the AAV is not at a superstar level, even a modest decline may still be tolerable on a contending roster, especially if his two-way and faceoff value remains strong.
Trocheck is a right-shot center, listed specifically at center on NHL and other statistical sites, and teams have long used him in that role. The Wild’s depth chart has felt thin at center recently, particularly in terms of proven, veteran top-six options who can handle offensive and defensive responsibilities.
He profiles as a true all-situations pivot. Trocheck has been deployed as a second-line center with the Rangers, often between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, and has logged heavy power-play minutes as a net-front presence. He’s also trusted on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle, leading the league in faceoff percentage among high-volume takers in at least one recent season.
That kind of versatility would allow Minnesota’s coaching staff to simultaneously use him as a matchup center, a power-play stabilizer, and a late-game closer. Trocheck’s game also fits the Wild’s identity. He plays with edge, hits a lot for a skill center, and is comfortable working in hard areas, which aligns with the heavier, forecheck-driven approach Minnesota has often favored. Slotting him between a high-end winger like Kaprizov or another scoring threat would give the Wild a reliable engine down the middle that they have often lacked.
Put together, Trocheck’s age, contract, and positional profile line up neatly with what the Wild need and what they can afford. A 32-year-old top-six center on a 5.625 million cap hit offers a rare blend of cost certainty and on-ice impact at a position that usually requires massive financial and asset commitments. His contract runs in alignment with the heart of Minnesota’s expected contention window, giving them stability at a historically weak spot without eating into the years that will matter most after their next big extensions.
There will be acquisition-cost questions and concerns about aging, but the upside is clear. Trocheck gives the Wild a credible, battle-tested center who fits their timeline, fits their cap sheet, and fills one of the last glaring holes on a roster that finally has room to aim higher.