Evaluating Mammoth’s Trade for Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck – Hockey Writers – Utah Mammoth

It was a quiet free agency for Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong, his only move of the day extending Kevin Stenlund. It was almost silent. About four hours into free agency, Armstrong made a spectacle. Mammoth traded Cole Beaudoin, Sean Durzi, and a 2027 third round pick to the New York Rangers for Vincent Trocheck.

Mammoth (Finally) Finds Their Top Center

For a long time, Mammoth is looking for a top center. Ever since Trocheck’s name first came up in trade rumors, the team has been watching him. Finally, after what seems like months of speculation, Mammoth has found him.

Trocheck is a senior center and is older than most of the centers Mammoth currently has. In 67 games last season, he produced 53 points. This happened when we were fighting lung disease at the beginning of the year. In general, he is a proven 20-goal scorer and has reached over 70 points in previous seasons.

It’s not just a case that Trocheck brings. The pitcher has had a winning percentage over 50% in each of his past 11 seasons, including a 59.3% winning percentage in the 2024-25 season. Last season, it was 56.9%, more than any other Mammoth center except Liam O’Brien (who only played 38 games).

Trocheck had a down year defensively last season. He had just 27 takeaways, 80 turnovers, 49 blocked shots, and was a minus-16. However, with a better core, no more trade rumors surrounding him and his family, and coming into the season fully healthy, those numbers are expected to improve.

The forward will enter the fifth year of his seventh-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.625 million. He has a 10-team no-trade list included in his contract.

Trocheck can also play in big games. He has made the playoffs six times in his NHL career and won a gold medal with Clayton Keller and Team USA last season at the Olympics, posting three points in six games.

This is Mammoth’s big swing, which indicates that its goal is to win now. Trocheck is 32 years old, currently the third oldest player on the team. Mammoth leaves one of their top prospects in Trocheck. This is a clear sign that they think the window of contention is now open.

Trocheck is developing Mammoth. Most likely, they will have Logan Cooley with him as their top two centers and Jack McBain, Barrett Hayton, and Stenlund as their other centers. Finally, as mentioned, the top center this franchise has wanted for a while.

It is also dangerous. Beaudoin may be someone Mammoth regrets giving away in the future. However, this is the move you make if you believe you can win now, and clearly, this team does. Mammoth got a B for this project. Trocheck could eventually be the piece that puts them over the top, but it’s a high price to pay for an old striker.

Guardians Get Good Pieces

It is possible that the Rangers remember Durzi well. The last time he played at Madison Square Garden, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Mammoth a 3-2 win.

The defender now joins the “tool” of the Rangers, who got some nice pieces today. Durzi spent the last three seasons with the Mammoth core team, one season in Arizona and the last two in Utah. Unfortunately, Utah’s two seasons were not good. He suffered a major injury in 2024-25 that shortened his season to 30 games.

Last season, although Durzi played 60 games, he produced only 27 points. However, the defenseman had the lowest ice time of his career (19:16), got injured again, and lost a lot to his family.

At his best, Durzi can be a 40-point defender who can play more than 20 minutes a night and be a force on the power play. Signed for two more years with an AAV of $6 million. Notably, the last two seasons of his contract have a modified no-trade clause and a 10-team no-trade list.

Beaudoin may be the most interesting piece of this trade. He was originally drafted 24th overall in 2024 after the Mammoth traded with the Colorado Avalanche to nab him. Beaudoin played the last four seasons with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his most recent season with the Colts, the forward produced 88 points in 54 games, scoring 33 goals.

It was his playoff performance that really impressed many. Beaudoin produced 29 points in 15 games, leading the entire league in production last season despite missing the final six postseason games due to injury. As a result, Beaudoin was named to the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) third team.

Beaudoin was widely predicted to be the next player to make an NHL team in training camp. He is a good second or third line center who can produce and play a good two-way game because of his size and physicality. Beaudoin is also a natural born leader and a very mature player for his age.

The Rangers also received a 2027 third-round pick in the deal. Most likely, that pick will be in the bottom 15 picks of the third round.

The three assets Rangers got for a player who had control over his destination and was rumored to be traded for a while are very good and interesting. With continued ice, Durzi may return to 40 points. Who knows how good Beaudoin will be in his first NHL season? At worst, the Rangers got a third-line center and a two-way defenseman. However, that is the worst case scenario. In all likelihood, Beaudoin, in particular, would be a great addition for the Rangers.

The Ranger gets an A-minus for this job. The purchase of Beaudoin is a big and very impressive piece, but Durzi could be a really good defender for them. Both players bring a lot of confidence and leadership to the Rangers locker room, something that will be very important to a team heading into a rebuilding season with a lot of new faces.