According to a report from Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, the top three forwards—Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra—will all be gone by the time the Blueshirts are on the clock, leaving them to select the best available defenseman, who would, in turn, be the second-best prospect at the position in the class.

However, that’s entirely subjective. Maybe New York’s preferred choice ends up falling into its lap. For the time being, though, it appears the Rangers have yet to make up their minds about who to take with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Obviously, that decision will depend largely on how draft night unfolds.

According to Wheeler, if Chase Reid is still available at No. 5, New York will not pass on him. However, Wheeler also mentioned the Rangers may have a soft spot for Keaton Verhoeff and Alberts Šmits. The door is wide open for the Blueshirts, but it seems all roads lead to them bolstering their defensive corps with the fifth overall selection.

New York needs to address its defense

Obviously, the Rangers would much rather hold a higher pick and have the entire board at their disposal. However, being limited to the top blueliners isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Especially considering how badly New York needs help on the blue line.

While the Rangers risk reliving the K’Andre Miller situation with Braden Schneider, the defensive corps in the Big Apple is under the spotlight. If Schneider does leave (he is an RFA), New York will lose the only defenseman on its roster originally drafted in the first round by the organization.

Even if Schneider is re-signed in Manhattan, the Rangers need more help, and whether it’s Reid, Verhoeff, Šmits, or Carson Carels, the fifth overall pick in 2026 may be the franchise’s best opportunity to get things right on the blue line.

Everything is on the line for Rangers

If the Blueshirts get it wrong, they risk testing the patience of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, as well as their top forwards and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. For the time being, Chris Drury is still able to sell his vision for the retool to the players.

Yet, the 2026 NHL Draft represents New York’s best chance to truly put its money where its mouth is. The locker room will be paying close attention. One rough draft night on June 26 at KeyBank Center, and the Rangers may have to throw their plan out the window.

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, Larkin would be willing to waive his no-movement clause (NMC) for a trade to the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, or Vegas Golden Knights. Although the Red Wings will stand firm on their asking price for Larkin, the captain ultimately holds all the leverage. If Detroit won’t deal him to one of those three destinations, it can only sit him. Doing so causes more harm than good, though.

As for the Rangers, the reported trade list completely rains down on their parade. New York could have been a dark horse to trade for Larkin—they still can, but it seems highly unlikely. Larkin is asking out of Motor City because he wants to win and a move to Broadway would put those aspirations on hold for a while.

New York general manager Chris Drury and head coach Mike Sullivan, who were around Larkin on Team USA, would’ve hoped their national team connections could come in handy. Unfortunately, if they want to acquire Larkin, they won’t be able to cut any corners. And even that may not be enough.

Larkin favors Team USA connections

The fact that Larkin’s trade list features three organizations filled with Team USA teammates and executives only makes it a tougher pill to swallow for the Rangers. After all, those connections do play a role, just not to New York’s advantage. The overall struggles and concerns in Manhattan are too significant for Larkin to dismiss.

Moreover, leaving the Red Wings, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by fewer than 10 points, for the Rangers, who finished last in the East, wouldn’t exactly be considered an upgrade for the Winged Wheel’s hometown captain. If Larkin is to leave the Wolverine State for the first time in his hockey career and life, he would surely want to go somewhere he won’t regret.

Team USA connections in Minnesota

As soon as Larkin’s trade request went public, the Wild emerged as the obvious frontrunners. Bill Guerin (Team USA’s GM during the 2026 Olympics) was expected to be all over it, and it’s clear he’s done just that.

Plus, Minnesota’s lineup features Larkin’s fellow American teammates Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy. Combine that with the fact that the Wild are the most top-six center-needy organization in the NHL and that it’s the main obstacle preventing them from becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and the puzzle is complete.

Why Florida makes sense for Larkin

As for the Panthers, the fact they’ve been to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals and have won back-to-back Stanley Cups should be enough to explain why any player would want to join the powerhouse in the beautiful, income tax-free Sunshine State.

From Larkin’s perspective, joining Bill Zito (Team USA assistant GM), Matthew Tkachuk, and a state-of-the-art roster built to win is just the cherry on top. Florida doesn’t really need another top center, but it seldom helps itself from going after NHL stars.

When in doubt, there’s always Vegas

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights continue to be the go-to franchise for players in search of fresh starts and immediate playoff success. The organization’s way of doing business leaves room for criticism, but the results speak for themselves.

Watching Mitch Marner become a Conn Smythe Trophy favorite less than a year after leaving another Original Six market might be enough to convince Larkin that Sin City is perfect for him. Plus, he’d get the chance to join Team USA friends Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.

Eichel is another example of how leaving the team that drafted you and heading to the Entertainment Capital of the World can do wonders for a player’s career. They say the house always wins in Las Vegas, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for those that get to call T-Mobile Arena home.

Larkin is sending Detroit a message

Larkin’s trade list is very narrow. He sends a clear message to the Red Wings that way. Detroit may ask him to expand his list a bit to gain more room to maneuver and negotiate.

Larkin may indeed add a few more options, but the odds of the Rangers even making that director’s cut remain low. Still, if there’s one thing the Big Apple teaches its residents, it’s to shoot for the stars, and one has just become available in the 313.

“Negotiations with restricted free agent Braden Schneider, meanwhile, have not yet begun,” Peter Baugh of The Athletic reported.

Schneider is set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) in the NHL. Coming off the recent experience with Miller, and subsequently watching him thrive in Carolina, one would expect Chris Drury and the Rangers to have learned their lesson. The fact that there has been no progress may indicate that isn’t the case.

Perhaps it’s still too early to tell. Or New York believes Miller’s and Schneider’s situations are not comparable, even if the similarities are there for the entire league to see.

Miller is thriving in Carolina

There’s no need to revisit how things went down with Miller, the former first-round pick in 2018 whom the Rangers signed-and-traded to the Hurricanes with a brand-new eight-year, $60 million contract.

Miller is now playing the best hockey of his NHL career and is in the Stanley Cup Final. New York is… Well, it’s still trying to figure out where it stands. Just as the Rangers are reportedly letting Jonny Brodzinski walk, they must make up their minds about Schneider.

With his two-year, $4.4 million extension expiring, Schneider, like Miller last year, will become an RFA. If the Rangers don’t get to work with his camp soon, they risk reaching June 30, when the rest of the league is allowed to speak with RFAs before the official start of free agency on July 1.

New York faces Schneider’s situation

Moreover, the silence can indeed speak volumes, and that could make up Schneider’s mind before New York draws its own conclusion. Schneider may feel the front office doesn’t really value him, choose not to re-sign in New York, and instead test the open waters of free agency.

He would still need another team to offer-sheet him and the Rangers to decline to match the offer—as to cash in the compensation draft pick. Many chips would have to fall into place, but Miller has some leverage to work things out in his favor.

That’s if he truly has had enough of the Rangers. It doesn’t seem to be the case, but with each minute he hears nothing from the organization that drafted him with a first-round pick in 2020, that possibility looms larger.

Offer sheet compensation

Projections for Schneider’s next deal vary greatly depending on whom you consult around the NHL. Still, for the sake of discussion, considering the 2026 compensation thresholds, it seems New York would receive a second-round pick at best in the event Schneider signs an offer sheet as an RFA.

According to Sportsnet, an offer sheet with an average annual value (AAV) between $1,575,969 and $2,387,832 results in third-round compensation, whereas an AAV ranging from $2,387,833 to $4,775,666 yields a second-round pick.

If the offer sheet’s AAV exceeds that figure but remains below $7,163,498, then the team losing its RFA receives a first- and third-round pick. Schneider’s next deal will likely be somewhere between $2 and $4.5 million. However, anything can happen in the NHL.

Rangers must get to work

In more ways than one, the sooner New York begins negotiations, the easier it will all go down. In order to do that, though, the Rangers must first decide what they are going to do. If they intend to keep him, then time is of the essence to get him under a new contract. The more days and weeks that pass, the greater the threat of arbitration (Schneider is eligible for it) becomes.

If the Rangers decide they are better off without him, then they must search for interested parties, perhaps the San Jose Sharks, who happen to hold the second overall pick in the NHL Draft, a position New York would love to be in.

Trading Schneider won’t be stress-free, though. In fact, it would cause an awful lot of extra headaches. As the Blueshirts have witnessed firsthand with Miller in Raleigh, if the defenseman finds success elsewhere, they never hear the end of it. If it happens twice in as many offseasons, New York may never live it down. Whichever route the Rangers go down, they will have to face the music.

“It sure sounds like there isn’t progress being made between Buffalo and Alex Tuch, and I’m hearing that Tuch is likely going to free agency,” Darren Dreger reported on First Up.

On paper, Tuch becoming available to the highest bidder should be great news for the Rangers, who have plenty of cap space to work with and want to accelerate their retool by landing one of the biggest fish in the ocean. Obviously, Tuch is no Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Brady Tkachuk, but if he indeed enters NHL‘s free agency, he’ll become the top winger available.

Meanwhile, McDavid, Matthews, and Tkachuk all remain under contract, and moving on from their respective Canadian teams remains only a theoretical possibility rather than an imminent reality. Still, Tuch leaving Buffalo doesn’t guarantee he’ll sign in Manhattan, and it could come back to bite the Rangers, who have their own matters to attend.

Tuch could affect interest in Trocheck

Although Tuch is naturally a winger, he’s always shown great adaptability throughout his NHL career. That extends to his ability to play all over the ice and at different positions.

Vincent Trocheck has already seen the center trade market, in which he was once the belle of the ball, turned on its head by Dylan Larkin’s trade request out of the Detroit Red Wings. If Tuch becomes available, there will be a clear No. 1 prize on the free-agent market, which is one of the shallowest in recent league history.

Tuch may draw interest from many teams that would otherwise be all over Trocheck. Make no mistake, though, Trocheck will still generate buzz. Executives across the league will be calling Chris Drury and asking about the second-line center. That’s not what’s at stake—the price is. That’s what matters most to New York.

All the Rangers care about

If it weren’t about the return package and simply a matter of shipping Trocheck away, the Rangers would’ve pulled the trigger on a trade a long time ago. The Blueshirts want to maximize their return. Their asking price reportedly remains around what they intended to get back in March, prior to the trade deadline: a first-round pick, a roster player, and a prospect.

Perhaps it’s gone up. Or maybe the Rangers are forced to lower their demands. They once held the golden goose at the trade table, but not anymore. New York is no longer on the driver’s seat—and becoming car sick.

Double-edged sword for New York

If Tuch re-signs in Buffalo, then interest in Trocheck may not face additional competition. If he doesn’t, however, then New York has a chance to sign the player who could make the wait worthwhile. It could come at the expense of the return in the seemingly imminent Trocheck trade.

What carries more weight? That’s what New York needs to be asking itself. Based on what the Rangers conclude, that’s how the team will digest the news of Tuch leaving Buffalo, if the reports prove true.

“The expectation is that Jonny Brodzinski will sign elsewhere after six seasons with the Rangers,” Peter Baugh wrote on The Athletic.

Brodzinski appeared in 55 throughout the 2025-26 NHL season, as he was in and out of the lineup. When he did play, he was mostly utilized in the bottom-six of the forwards group. Last season, Brodzinski registered 16 points (6 G, 10 A), so his production is one that shouldn’t take much time replacing.

Brodzinski becomes an UFA

Since joining the organization in the Big Apple in 2020, Brodzinski has signed three extensions with the Rangers, in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Coming off a two-year, $1.58 million contract with the Blueshirts, it looks like the 32-year-old (who will turn 33 on June 19) has reached the end of the road on Eighth Avenue.

Projected to sign a contract similar to his team-friendly deal ($787,500 cap hit), it’s clear money isn’t the issue. Both sides seem to favor a fresh start, and it might actually be for the best.

Wherever he heads next, Brodzinski is almost certainly in for more of the same and a role similar to the one he had in Manhattan. The Minnesota native may establish himself in a lineup, but it’s unlikely he’ll enjoy a late bloom into a top-six role.

Rangers’ pending free agents

In addition to Brodzinski, New York has several other names set to become UFAs and RFAs in the NHL. Conor Sheary, Trey Fix-Wolanski, Casey Fitzgerald, Connor Mackey, and Brandon Scanlin are the other players, both rostered and in the organization set to become unrestricted free agents.

Meanwhile, Braden Schneider, Vincent Iorio, and Dylan Garand headline the list of pending RFAs, which includes Lauri Pajuniemi, Karl Henriksson, Brendan Brisson, Brett Berard, and Scott Morrow.

Two things can be true. New York was bummed to see Larkin hit the market, as his trade request spoils the Rangers’ plan for Vincent Trocheck. On the other hand, one of the organization’s bucket-list players suddenly became available in the NHL—for the right price. It sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime, and one the Blueshirts will reportedly explore. Perhaps, they already have.

“I’d be stunned if the Rangers don’t make the call—if they haven’t already,” The Athletic’s Vincent Mercogliano said on his X account. “I believe [Larkin’s] a name they’ve inquired about in the past and would love to get their hands on to fuel the retool. I’ve been saying for weeks my sense is they want to take a big swing and this certainly falls into that category.“

Rangers have ties to Larkin

Although the Minnesota Wild are the obvious frontrunner to trade for Larkin, the Rangers can’t be taken for granted. Just as the Wild have GM Bill Guerin and stars Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy, who were with Larkin during Team USA’s gold-medal run at the 2026 Olympics, New York has its fair share of Team USA connections.

Chris Drury was Team USA’s assistant general manager, Mike Sullivan was the head coach, David Quinn served as an assistant, and Vincent Trocheck was in the locker room as well. The latter may be traded soon, but he is still around in the Big Apple for the time being.

“I’ve also repeatedly heard they’ll try to leverage their Team USA connections if the opportunity presents itself, which checks a box in this case,” Mercogliano noted on New York’s case to trade for Larkin. The time may have finally come for the Rangers to cash in on their league-wide connections. However, they face several obstacles.

Would Larkin waive his NMC to go to New York?

That’s the million-dollar question. Larkin is signed through the 2030-31 NHL season at an $8.7 million cap hit and under a full no-movement clause (NMC) for the next two seasons. Thus, he can choose where he’ll play next.

With the cards to his future in his hands, Larkin will most surely opt to join a Stanley Cup contender. Having finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, it’s clear New York isn’t one. The Rangers have some intriguing pieces, though, and if their retool goes according to plan, they might be back at the big boys’ table in a couple of years.

However, the same logic applies to the Red Wings, so what would be in it for Larkin if he waived his NMC just to change addresses and end up in a quite similar situation? Swapping an ‘Original Six’ team, an often disruptive front office, and a major American city for another—in more ways than one, change would actually be quite similar for Larkin if he moved to New York City.

Larkin could leave Michigan for the first time

Perhaps, it’s not about where he goes, but simply about leaving once and for all. The state of Michigan is all Larkin has ever called home in his life and career. Born in Waterford, Michigan, Larkin joined USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. He played at the NCAA level for the Michigan Wolverines, and he was drafted by the Red Wings.

No one is a messiah in his own land, and the time may have come for Larkin to leave the Great Lakes State. All things considered, it also begs the question: how bad must things be within the Red Wings organization for the homegrown team captain to ask out?

“According to multiple sources, Dylan Larkin recently requested a trade from Detroit,” as reported by Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet.

The Rangers should’ve expected things to turn south at some point. It wasn’t like them to have everything turn on their favor. Shortly after New York learned it could profit from Jonathan Toews’ reported retirement, the Blueshirts have been dealt an ice-cold bucket, sending them back into a rough reality.

Larkin’s trade requests shifts trade market

While the Red Wings will do everything they can to avoid losing their franchise player and captain, it seems like Larkin has made up his mind. As soon as his name is put on the market, the hierarchy will change. Trocheck will no longer be the best centerman available. Some might say he’d be the second-best, but if he isn’t first, then he might as well be last.

New York had a golden goose on its hands. With Trocheck being the best candidate, the Blueshirts could set the market price and demand a king’s ransom. Now, power will shift hands. Detroit will be in control of that. The Red Wings, however, contrary to the Rangers, wished not to be in this position. But as they may see no other way out, they might use it to their advantage.

In the blink of an eye, the tables have turned around the NHL. All the incredible work New York had done in holding on to Trocheck through the trade deadline may be in vain. Larkin becomes the top centerman available on the trade market, and he will stay that way unless someone of Connor McDavid’s or Auston Matthews’ caliber asks out as well.

Larkin and Trocheck’s contract situations

Though signed to a much different figure, Larkin is under contract for many years to come. The Red Wings’ captain put pen to paper on an eight-year, $69.6 million ($8.7 million cap hit) deal. In 2026-27, he will be entering the fourth season of that contract.

With over half of his contract left, Larkin (29) is indubitably the top trade chip on the league’s market. He holds all the cards regarding his future, as he is signed to a full no-trade clause (NTC). The deal will become a modified no-trade clause (M-NTC) in 2028-29, in the form of a 10-team no-trade list. However, it’s reasonable to believe Larkin won’t be in Detroit by then.

As for Trocheck, he has three seasons left on his seven-year, $39.3 million contract. His deal includes an M-NTC, a 10-team no-trade list. Trocheck is older than Larkin, more of a second-line anchor than a first-line centerman, but he makes up for it with a lower cap hit, a measly $5.6 million per year. For a player with over 50 points in each of his last five campaigns, it’s more than a fair price.

Different contexts in New York and Detroit

Trocheck, however, hasn’t requested a trade out of New York. Indeed, he’d like to join a contender on the East Coast, but is giving his organization time to work. Larkin may not. Thus, reaching an agreement with the Red Wings may be easier, or at least cheaper, than reaching one with the Rangers, whose asking price starts with a first-round pick, a roster player, and a prospect.

Now that Detroit holds the golden ticket and is putting it up for auction—against its will, however—the Blueshirts may have to lower their expectations. Or hope the Red Wings ask for much more than them, so their price for Trocheck is still somewhat mundane.

The organization in the Second City could actually come to the rescue of the Broadway Blueshirts. The Rangers own the fifth overall selection, whereas the Blackhawks stand just one spot ahead with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. Needless to say, fans in Chicago don’t love the idea of moving down, but if New York’s offer is worth it, then Hawks fans may have no say in the matter.

General managers Chris Drury and Kyle Davidson could reach a deal. According to a report, the Hawks are considering sliding down, and it’s clear the Rangers would like to speed up their retool by finding their franchise savior. Moving up from fifth to fourth, though only slightly, does indeed bolster New York’s odds of coming away with such a prospect.

“I could see the Blackhawks trading down,” insider Frank Seravalli reported during an appearance on the Kevin Karius Show.

Rangers-Blackhawks trade hinges on Stenberg

According to reports around the league, the Blackhawks are fixed on their target in the 2026 NHL Draft. That is Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg. Although there is speculation he could be the first overall pick, it just feels like the Toronto Maple Leafs will incline toward the consensus No. 1 prospect, Gavin McKenna.

With the Sharks having no true urge for another top-six forward—it’s more of a want than a need—and instead being in desperate need of help on the blue line, there’s reason to believe Stenberg could fall to No. 3.

The Canucks would be a curious team. Having recently promoted Manny Malhotra to fill their head coaching vacancy, will Vancouver select Manny’s son and the consensus No. 1 center in this year’s class, Caleb Malhotra? Or will the ‘Nucks look to fill Quinn Hughes’ void on the defensive corps?

Chicago will play the waiting game

If neither, then Stenberg would be the obvious choice for the Canucks. As illustrated, many chips must fall into place, but there’s still a scenario in which Stenberg is available at No. 4 for the Blackhawks.

Thus, as long as Stenberg remains on the board past the first two picks, it feels unlikely Chicago will part with its first-rounder, regardless of the package Drury and company can put together.

On the other hand, if Stenberg is off the board at No. 1, 2, or 3, then the Blackhawks may feel more at ease trading down. Perhaps the next-best player on their board is one they feel will still be available in their new draft position.

NY Rangers and Blackhawks need help

Chicago, much like New York, needs all the help it can get. The Rangers have more firepower than the Hawks, but still nothing to brag about. Both teams must address their blue lines as well. For the Blackhawks, however, they must surround Connor Bedard with talent. Ever since he was drafted first overall in 2023, he’s had to play on a first line with talent more fitting for bottom-six roles.

He’s been patient and a good sport, but as he’s reportedly set to be named captain, he wants to see real change. The Blackhawks have a lot to prove to the face of their franchise and their fans as well. New York doesn’t have such a young face of the franchise—Alexis Lafreniere has struggled to establish himself as one, and the jury is still out on Gabe Perreault—but it has passionate fans who, as of late, are just as desperate as those in the Windy City.

Perhaps a draft-night swap works out for the best for both teams. If it’s any consolation to the two sides, they won’t see each other too often, as they play in different conferences. That is a benefit in a Hawks-Blueshirts relationship that doesn’t apply to the Sharks and Blackhawks, for example, as both organizations firmly believe they are on a collision course in the Western Conference for years to come.

“Toronto has reached out about Trocheck in the wake of Max Domi’s back surgery complications,” the New York Post reported. “Domi is out indefinitely, which puts the Maple Leafs in the market for a second-line center.”

Additionally, according to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Buds will interview Laviolette this week as part of their head coaching search. Toronto may be the new New York after all, and there’s a scenario in which Trocheck is back under Laviolette’s orders, only this time on the opposite side of the St. Lawrence River.

Trocheck’s trade clause

As much pull as the Maple Leafs may have in convincing the Rangers, it could all come down to Trocheck’s preference. If the Maple Leafs are on his 10-team no-trade list, then there is nothing that may change his mind, and a trade to Toronto would remain forever an utopia.

Based on reports from around the trade deadline, most teams on Trocheck’s no-go list were located in the Western Conference, as the veteran wanted to remain on the East Coast—where his family is. However, whether he’s willing to move to Canada is a reasonable question to ask. Another logical question is whether Toronto has the assets to trade for Trocheck.

NY Rangers’ reported price for Trocheck

According to most sources at the trade deadline, and as repeated by the New York Post, the Blueshirts are asking for a first-round pick, a current NHL player, and a high-end prospect in return for Trocheck.

However, just like the Rangers could profit from Jonathan Toews’ reported retirement and a thin free-agent class, their asking price may have gone up since March 6.

Trocheck’s contract at roughly $5.6 million per year, signed for the next three NHL seasons, looks like an offer too good to pass up for any team. But just like the Maple Leafs, there will be countless suitors knocking on the Rangers’ door. New York understands that to perfection and thus will be asking for an arm and a leg from each and every one of them.

Toronto may not have right offer for New York

Even if the price remains unchanged, the Maple Leafs may not have as strong an offer as other bidders. Toronto has a first-round pick in 2026 that New York would kill for, but the Buds will never part ways with. That leaves room for their first-round pick in 2027, which originally belonged to Colorado.

There’s a very small chance the Avalanche end up with a lottery pick next season, meaning it’s of little use to the Blueshirts. Toronto has no first-round pick of its own in 2027 or 2028. Waiting for the 2029 first-rounder may not be worth it for the Rangers. After all, they are based in New York, and the City That Never Sleeps isn’t known for its saint-like patience, nor are the fans in town.

As for a roster player and prospects, the Rangers have plenty of options to choose from on the Maple Leafs. Whether the Buds will accept, that’s another question. But if the two sides can’t reach an agreement on the draft pick involved, then they could be in a cul-de-sac right from the get-go.

Toronto could be a contender again

Indeed, Toronto missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a mile in 2026. However, it came away with the No. 1 selection in the upcoming Draft, and that could land the Maple Leafs the ultimate rebound.

With Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and others in town, adding Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg—and perhaps Vincent Trocheck—the sky could truly be the limit for them, provided the Leafs address their blue line.

All they could be missing is a mastermind behind the bench, and perhaps that key piece is Peter Laviolette. Still, this perfect scenario for Toronto hinges on two big “ifs,” and that’s whether the Buds can make an appealing offer to the Rangers and whether Trocheck looks forward to—or at the very least can’t veto—a move to The Six.

“Nothing official, but at this point it seems likely Jonathan Toews is retiring,” Darren Dreger reported on his X account about the three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks.

If Toews indeed calls it a career and hangs up the skates after his one-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets, that would be another centerman removed from the NHL free-agent market. In a free-agent class that is shaping up to be one of the thinnest in recent years, the trade market continues to make its case as the preferred alternative for contenders in need of reinforcements.

NY Rangers will set steep price on Trocheck

If any team is missing a veteran center who can perform in the postseason, the Rangers have one signed through the 2028-29 NHL season at a more than reasonable cap hit of $5.6 million per year.

Of course, acquiring Trocheck would come at a cost, but New York is more than willing to sit down and negotiate. With every passing day, however—and with developments such as the rumors surrounding Toews’ retirement—the interest in Trocheck figures to increase.

It’s a basic law of economics. There’s only one Trocheck, but several teams are after him. When supply is low and demand is high, prices skyrocket, and it looks like Chris Drury and company have the belle of the ball in their hands.

Rangers will look at every offer on the table

Trocheck is indeed available, but it will take lengthy conversations with New York to get a deal done. In case teams haven’t visited the Big Apple before, they should know that nothing comes cheap—especially around Midtown Manhattan.

Drury and the Blueshirts need all the help they can get. In Trocheck, they have a golden goose that could very well land them the assets to put the organization back on its feet.

Needless to say, the Rangers will take their sweet time and listen to every single offer before agreeing to a trade. However, all signs suggest a move will ultimately happen, most likely before the 2026-27 NHL season gets underway.

Toews’ retirement remains unofficial

For the time being, Toews’ retirement remains only a report. However, where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, and this might not be an exception. Toews came out of a two-year hiatus from the NHL when he joined the Jets for the 2025-26 season.

After dealing with injuries throughout much of his professional career, Toews managed to play all 82 games for his hometown club. Hoisting Lord Stanley one more time—or even making the Stanley Cup Playoffs—would have been sweet, but Toews still proved something, most importantly to himself: he still has it. Perhaps it was the perfect way to end a career in which he won it all, including three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Frank J. Selke Trophy.

If this is indeed the end of the road for Toews’ playing career in the NHL, he can truly say he’s seen it all. He would be going out on his own terms, rather than allowing his physical and mental health to cut his career short. Toews endured a lot, battled even harder, and got to live out his dream. Whether he retires or not, his legacy in the league remains untarnished.

If the Broadway Blueshirts want to move up the board, they’d better pick up the phone and start making calls. Unfortunately, the San Jose Sharks may not be too eager to answer if they see the call is coming from the Big Apple. According to a report making the rounds in NHL circles, the Sharks have drawn the line on how far they’re willing to move down in the draft.

“San Jose, I’m told doesn’t want to drop below the fourth [overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft],” insider Darren Dreger stated on the Barn Burner podcast.

San Jose is New York’s best chance to move up

If the Sharks are indeed declaring the Rangers’ fifth overall pick a no-go zone in the 2026 NHL Draft, then all hope might actually be lost in New York. San Jose is stacked with exciting forwards, and its GM, Mike Grier, has close ties to Chris Drury.

If trading down made sense for any team in the league, it’d be the organization in the capital of Silicon Valley. However, chance has dealt New York another rough hand. The Blueshirts dropped two spots in the NHL Draft Lottery, and fortune still isn’t giving them a break.

It appears the Sharks will either make their pick at No. 2 or, even worse for New York, move down a couple of spots while remaining ahead of the Rangers. New York tried its luck in shark-infested waters, and it may have learned its lesson.

The NY Rangers may have no other alternative

The Toronto Maple Leafs were handed the ultimate lifeline by winning the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. Considering all the distress the organization has endured—and could continue to endure—there’s a better chance hell freezes over than the Buds parting with the No. 1 selection and the opportunity to draft Gavin McKenna—or Ivar Stenberg, if they’re bold enough to take that route.

The Vancouver Canucks finished with the worst record in the league and still couldn’t secure the first overall pick. Vancouver has never moved up in the draft lottery since the system was introduced and has never picked first overall. That distinction will follow the Canucks into this year’s NHL Draft, and there’s little chance they’ll entertain a deal to move down from third overall.

The same logic applies to the Chicago Blackhawks, who will select fourth overall—reportedly the lowest San Jose is willing to drop in a trade-down scenario.

Little chance Chicago helps New York

There would be a sliver of hope for New York and Chicago to strike a deal were it not for the fact that the Hawks remain stubbornly confident Stenberg could fall to them at No. 4. And even if he doesn’t, the Blackhawks seem content to come away with whichever top player remains available, possibly Caleb Malhotra, Chase Reid, or Carson Carels.

Moving down one spot in a trade with New York, knowing the Rangers could then use that pick to entice San Jose, simply makes little sense for Chicago. Maybe the Blackhawks will engage in negotiations of their own with the Sharks.

All in all, Chicago may finally get its revenge on the Big Apple. The NHL franchise in the Second City may actually be second after all, while the Broadway Blueshirts seem stuck at No. 5.