Unrelated to your post, but that Trocheck signing aged weirdly like immediately. I like him as a player, and think he's a great addition to the 3rd line, just a lot of money for the 3rd line. Especially with a full NMC.

I agree because he's not bad at all he is a very useful player he just doesn't fit with the current top 6. I think its part of a larger identity problem that the team has between the Gorton and Drury era. Gorton built his team around guys like Panarin, Chytil, Jones, Zibanejad, and Fox. Gorton built a team to run on skill and speed with young players being at the core and a few physical guys on the edges to support. Drury flipped this around and he seems like he would much rather have a team with a core of guys like Trouba, Kreider, Trocheck, Lindgren, and Kakko with skilled guys here and there to support them. So I think theyre sort of in between two teams while Drury can't really fully make his team due to the cap and the remnants of Gorton's core are still all over the lineup.

And for Trochecks contract yeah its not the best now but given Chytil is on a deal for even less I'm not too worried especially with the cap going up

Trocheck solidifies a solid center depth, other wise we would be playing goodrow or someone less talented lol

Besides trocheck is literally the only center who can win a faceoff when it matters

Goodrow should be stapled to the 4th line. If anyone moving up, I hope it’s Vesey

Biggest problem is handing out NMC like they’re candy. I could under NTC in some cases, but I’d never hand out more than a handful and that’d be reserved for the legit core of the team.

It’s pretty common when you sign long term deal and some times a deal breaker for players

If that meant we’d have to find other options than Panarin, Trouba, Trocheck and Goodrow we’d likely be better off and have more flexibility to improve the team.

Panarin is the best offensive player and trocheck contract is fine lol

I'm not bashing Trocheck here, and of course the Rangers couldn't have known for sure that last year was going to be the year the Chytil finally proves himself, but that money could've gone towards a more 3c kinda center with some left over to help pay for other depth. Dylan Strome, Max Domi were available and signed for 2 million less. Both of those players also then overplayed the cap they signed at, while also driving play at 5v5, which the Rangers have struggled with. Throwing in an extra 1-1.5 for either of them could've gotten a bit more term.

Entirely hypothetical, and again not meant to take anything away from Trocheck, just wish they had gone for a cheaper option with a bit of foresight.

Yea true. Chytil finally broke out somewhat but he’s also a bit injury prone too