Shades of the 2023 off-season, now reignite that small spark as the Penguins were set to sign now Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck to replace Evgeni Malkin before ultimately pivoting to re-signing Malkin.
As of February 28 and heading into just under one week away from the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Penguins may look to add in the forward department with the multi week absence of the captain Sidney Crosby.
Pittsburgh and hometown native, Vincent Trocheck is back on the trade market and his name has been thrown around in connection to multiple teams including the Pittsburgh Penguins.
New York Rangers: They have a lot out there & willing to listen on most ideas. Trocheck has interest from MIN & LA really likes him. His preference is to stay out East but not a hard and fast rule. People wonder about COL and PIT but it might he not fit with PIT's plans. Elliotte…
— NHL Trade Alert (@NHLTradeAlert) February 27, 2026
Trocheck, 32, is currently in year four of his seven year deal at a cap hit of $5,625,000 AAV. He sits at 12G, 26A, 38P in only 45 games played with the Rangers this season. He also recently won a Gold Medal with Team USA at the 2026 Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics.
A factor and valuable asset that comes with acquiring Trocheck despite his age is how dominant he is come playoff time and how controlling he is in the face-off dot. The Penguins this season have had a big struggle in face-off category and Trocheck would come in and address that problem immediately.
Pens won 23.1% of their draws today, lowest mark ever since NHL began charting in 1996-97.
— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) February 28, 2026
Trocheck would become the legitimate number two centre the Penguins have been looking for and could have had back in 2023. It would add to the now and the future outlook that Kyle Dubas continues to mention over and over again when it comes to how he will address buying at the Trade Deadline.
You could have a second line come playoff time and down the rest of the stretch of:
Egor Chinakhov - Vincent Trocheck - Evgeni Malkin
Division tax would of course come into play when it comes to trading with the New York Rangers, you also are securing a proven forward and adding heavy amounts of experience on the international stage and the playoff stage here in the NHL.
Trocheck may be on Kyle Dubas's radar but the question that comes to mind is will he actually pull the trigger and how does he view Trocheck. He would be smart to trade for the now Gold Medalist.