Bill Guerin is not known for sitting on his hands. According to recent reporting from The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the Minnesota Wild General Manager is aggressively shopping for a center to solidify the team’s chances at a deep Stanley Cup run.
The target? New York Rangers veteran center Vincent Trocheck.
This isn’t just idle speculation. League sources indicate that the Wild are not on Trocheck’s 12-team no-trade list, removing the biggest hurdle to a potential blockbuster. While nothing is imminent yet, the smoke is starting to billow. If the Rangers are looking to retool and get younger, and the Wild are looking to win now, this is the match that makes sense. But the cost for Minnesota will be steep.
The Projected Trade Package: What Do The Rangers Want?
The Rangers aren’t just going to give away a top-six center on a team-friendly contract without extracting significant value. Because the Wild have thinned out their draft capital in previous moves, the Rangers will be looking for “Grade-A” prospects.
Based on our analysis, here is the trade package the Rangers would likely demand to send Trocheck to St. Paul:
Option 1: The “Wallstedt” Blockbuster
- To Minnesota: Vincent Trocheck (C)
- To New York: Jesper Wallstedt (G) + 2028 2nd Round Pick
This hurts, Wild fans, I know. But if you want a premium center without giving up a 1st round pick (which you don’t have), you have to trade value. With Filip Gustavsson holding down the fort, Wallstedt becomes the luxury asset Guerin can use to fix the hole down the middle.
Option 2: The “Forward Future” Swap
- To Minnesota: Vincent Trocheck (C)
- To New York: Danila Yurov (F) + Charlie Stramel (F)
If Guerin refuses to move his goalie of the future, the Rangers will pivot to Minnesota’s elite skating prospects. Yurov offers the high-end offensive ceiling New York needs for their retool, while Stramel brings the size and grit the Rangers covet.
Ultimately, this comes down to Guerin’s timeline. Trocheck brings grit, playoff experience, and faceoff dominance immediately. Are the Wild willing to mortgage the future for a shot at the Cup today?
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