Maple Leafs’ perfect trade offer for Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck

The Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 this past season. While they have made the playoffs consistently, the team has had little playoff success, not advancing past the second round in that time span. In an effort to change the roster and improve for the future, the Maple Leafs have already made one trade.

In that deal, they sent Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Flyers in exchange for Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson, and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. This trade could play a massive part in the trade of the future for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs are looking to upgrade at the center position behind Auston Matthews. They are also looking for someone who can give proven production while also being a two-way forward.

One of the best options on the market is Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers. The Rangers will likely want Matthews Knies in return for Trochek, but the Leafs will not be offering that. Instead, they can provide a package of draft picks, young players, and fill a need for the Rangers in order to get the trade done.

The deal begins with draft picks

The Rangers are aiming to get younger and will likely be interested in draft picks to get the deal done. They will begin the negotiations asking for a first-round pick, but that is not going to happen. Still, the Maple Leafs do not have a glut of draft picks to send to the Rangers. They do not have their own first-round pick the next two years, but do have Colorado’s next year. They do have two first-round picks in 2027, but they also have some extra picks for the 2026 NHL Draft. If the Rangers can agree on second-round value in draft picks, there is a deal to be made.

Instead of sending the second round pick they have this year, which is from the Buffalo Sabres, the Leafs will recreate that in the aggregate. The Maple Leafs just received a third-round pick from the Flyers in the Joseph Woll deal, which is pick number 85. They also have their own third-round pick, which is the 69th selection in the NHL Draft. They will use the better of the two third-round picks, which is their own pick, to start the deal. While it is a high second-round pick, it does not fully recreate the value.

The Maple Leafs also hold two fifth-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, their own and a pick from the Colorado Avalanche. Their pick is 133rd overall, and the one from the Avalanche is pick number 158. Using pick number 133, the value comes close to that of the value of the second round pick they hold, according to PuckPedia.

The Rangers get two prospects

The Rangers will want Matthew Knies in the deal for Trocheck, but will not be getting him. They could go after a player like Easton Cowan, but the Leafs are going to be interested in moving different prospects. The first one is going to be Ben Danford. Danford becomes available after the trade with the Flyers. Hockey insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic spoke of the Maple Leafs excitement about Emil Andrae.

“From a Leafs’ perspective, this was about roster flexibility, cap space and their belief in (Emil) Andrae, 24, as a good, young defenseman,” LeBrun wrote.

With Andrae being the young blueliner for the future for the Leads, they can move Danford. The 20-year-old was the 31st overall selection of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs. He is a solid blue line player who is developing on the offensive side of the ice. The blueline could be a future top-four defender in the NHL, but will take some time.

Joining Danford and heading to the Rangers would be a more NHL-ready forward in Luke Haymes. Haymes had a solid three years are Darmouth College before signing with the Leafs. In his nine games with the Toronto Marlies of the AH in 2024-25, he found the back of the net twice and added four assists. Haymes was even better this year. In 66 games, he lit the lamp 17 times while adding 16 helpers with the Marlies. He also made his NHL debut, playing four games with the Leafs and adding a point. This would give two solid prospects heading to the Rangers with draft picks.

The Maple Leafs send a netminder to the Rangers

To get the deal across the finish line, the Leafs can flip another piece they just got. In the Woll trade, the Leafs brought in Samuel Ersson. The Leafs do not have a need for him through. They have Dennis Hildeby under contract for the next two years as well. He also comes in with some NHL experience, playing 26 games with 20 starts over the past two seasons. He is 8-10-4 in that time with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .903 save percetnage. Still, he is sitting behind Artur Akhtyamov in the AHL Playoffs. Akhtyamov has been amazing in the playoffs, going 14-6 with two shutouts so far. Further, he has a 2.10 goals-agaisnt average and a .928 save percentage.

Akhtyamov is also leading the Marlies in the Calder Cup Final right now, winning the first three games and allowing six goals on 74 shots. He is also coming off a 24-save shutout of Chicago in Game 3. One of those two will be able to step into the backup role for the Leafs, leaving Ersson expendable.

Meanwhile, the Rangers need a new backup goaltender. They have Igor Shesterkin under contract long-term, but Jonathan Quick just retired. With Dylan Garland not quite ready for the NHL level, adding Ersson for the short term will be attractive for the Rangers.

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