Sabres’ perfect trade offer for Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck

The season that was for the Buffalo Sabres was a tremendous success by just about all reasonable standards, especially given the dark cloud that hung over the franchise at this time last year as the holders of the NHL’s longest active playoff drought.

In fact, the Sabres hadn’t qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since spring 2011 when they blew a three-games-to-two series lead against rival Philadelphia Flyers, who beat them in overtime in Buffalo in Game 6 and then routed them in Game 7 in Philadelphia to advance.

That, coupled with a hit from Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic on goaltender Ryan Miller early the next season that drew little response from his teammates, sent the franchise into a tailspin.

Things appeared bleak through the first few weeks of December in 2025-26, as they were barely at the .500 mark with a record of 14-14-4 when they decided to make a franchise-altering move. General manager Kevyn Adams, who had been on the job for five seasons, was given his walking papers, and he was replaced by former Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen.

From that point on, the Sabres were a wagon. They went on a complete tear under Kekäläinen, which included 10 and eight-game winning streaks. In fact, it was the best 40-game stretch of any NHL team in 30 years. For the first time since 2007, they earned the top spot in their division, and eventually defeated the divisional rival Boston Bruins in the opening round of the postseason in six games.

While they were eventually able to stave off elimination against another divisional rival in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, the Montreal Canadiens, they were defeated in overtime of Game 7 at KeyBank Center, heartbreakingly ending their campaign.

There was a lot to be proud of for the Sabres and how they revitalized hockey for a franchise that had become the punchline of jokes across the hockey world over the last decade and a half. Kekäläinen now has his work cut out for him in the coming months to ensure that their advancement to the second round was only the beginning of something special and not an anomaly.

Right now, Buffalo’s biggest concern is whether forward Alex Tuch, a pending unrestricted free agent, will return to the club. If Tuch walks, it would have a devastating effect on their top six.

This is where New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck, who was rumored to be on the move during the March NHL Trade Deadline and yet ultimately remained in place, could come into play.

Why would the Sabres need Vincent Trocheck?

If Tuch were to leave the Sabres, they would be in dire need of a top-six center capable of playing in all situations while handling heavy minutes. While Trocheck isn’t getting any younger — he will turn 33 in July — he has still proven he can perform at a high level, as evidenced by his production with the Rangers in recent seasons, as well as his strong play on the international stage with Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he delivered consistent two-way contributions under pressure.

Trocheck, who helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24, is still signed through 2029 with a modest $5.625 million salary cap hit, which is roughly around half of the kind of yearly salary that Tuch wants in his new contract.

What could Sabres offer Rangers in return for Trocheck? 

The Sabres have several prospects they could use as trade bait with the Rangers, including goaltender Devon Levi, who is seeking more playing time and likely won’t find it in Buffalo in the near future. Conversely, the Rangers are set to lose backup goaltender Jonathan Quick to retirement, leaving an open roster spot behind starter Igor Shesterkin.

Levi would likely welcome a fresh start with a new club in New York, potentially giving him a chance to prove Buffalo wrong for not offering him more consistent opportunities earlier in his career, while also showcasing his improved development and readiness at the NHL level.

Additionally, forward prospect Brodie Ziemer, Buffalo’s third-round pick (71st overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, has emerged as a proven scorer at the University of Minnesota and could be an attractive piece for a rebuilding Rangers team looking to restock its prospect pool with high-upside young talent and long-term organizational depth.

It would probably also take a roster player to get over the finish line, and the Sabres could add a young player like Jack Quinn or Peyton Krebs — although the front office would probably be hesitant to part with either.

By all indications, it appears as though Tuch and the Sabres are heading for a split this offseason, and Trocheck could be the most logical replacement for Kekäläinen to target to ensure Buffalo remains on an upward trajectory in 2026-27 and beyond.

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