The New York Rangers have some massive paydays to hand out on the horizon. Rising star forward Alexis Lafreniere, reliable defenseman K’Andre Miller, and world-class goalie Igor Shesterkin are all set to become free agents in 2025. The Rangers need to start saving some salary cap space for next offseason. Thankfully, one bargain contract should help give general manager Chris Drury some flexibility with the salary cap next offseason.
Vincent Trocheck’s contract might be the best value deal in the NHL
The Rangers get criticized for some of the more expensive contracts they currently have on their books — Jacob Trouba’s deal, namely. But they also deserve equal praise for some of the bargain deals they currently have players attached to.
The biggest bargain of them all is Vincent Trocheck’s contract. The Rangers signed Trocheck in the 2022 offseason to a seven-year, $39.3 million contract paying him $5.62 million in AAV. This contract makes him just the fourth-highest-paid forward on the Blueshirts’ roster and the seventh-highest-paid player on the roster including defenseman and goalies.
Trocheck has already totaled 141 points in his two years with the Rangers (64 in 2022-23 and 77 in 2023-24). He centers the star-studded second line for the Blueshirts playing alongside Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Both players have seen an increase in production since playing alongside Trocheck.
Trocheck is one of those players who elevates the talent around him. He’s physical, he’s a playmaker, and he’s a clutch scorer. He will be a staple in the Rangers’ lineup for years to come.
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The Rangers will benefit from the length of Trocheck’s deal
Initially, there was skepticism from Rangers fans regarding the length of Trocheck’s contract. Seven years is a long time, and subsequently, an intense commitment to make to one player. But two years into this deal, Trocheck has exceeded all expectations and has shown zero signs of slowing down.
Trocheck was even better in his second season with New York than he was in his first. If he continues on this trajectory, improving year by year, Trocheck’s deal will only look better. He’s being paid $5.62 million in AAV, but based on his production over the past two seasons, if this contract were a three-year deal, Trocheck would be in line for a steep pay raise going into free agency in 2025. But thankfully that won’t be happening.
This contract should ensure that Trocheck retires with the Blueshirts. The 31-year-old forward will be a 36-year-old forward when his deal expires. By then, Rangers fans will hope that he has hoisted a trophy and etched his name into the franchise’s history books.
