With the 2026 NHL trade deadline just a few days away (March 6), it is time to see who would be a great player available for the Edmonton Oilers to pickup and add to their lineup as they go for another deep playoff run.
To be honest, it seems like nowadays, more players are wanting to get traded to a team in the United States rather than Canada and that is for many reasons. I will not go into detail today, but the reasoning behind these decisions are family, money (none or limited taxes), or just wanting to play in an American market.
Today, I will be looking at one player in particular that I feel would be a great fit for the Oilers as a third-line centre. Can you guess who I am thinking of?
Vincent Trocheck would be a great fit
New York Rangers Vincent Trocheck is the player who would be a good fit for the Edmonton Oilers. At 32 years old, he is coming up at the end of his career (based on the NHL average retirement age of 30–35). However, he still has some quality years left in front of him to try and win his first Stanley Cup.
So far in his career, Trocheck has played 846 games and scored 235 goals and 381 assists for a total of 616 points. This season, he has 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points in 45 games. The best season of his career happened in 2023–24, when he put up 25 goals and a career-high 52 assists, for a total of 77 points in a complete 82-game season.
In terms of face-off, Trocheck is consistently ranked among the top face-off takers in the NHL, making him a crucial player for any team in the circle. He is having an elite 2025–26 campaign with the New York Rangers, thanks to his 57.4% face-off win rate. He has previously led the NHL with a 59.3% face-off percentage in the 2023–24 season. With his career average being around 54.2%, he continues to solidify his reputation as one of the league’s top face-off specialists.
Role as a 3C
When trying to figure out where Vincent Trocheck can fit into the Edmonton Oilers lineup, the third line makes the most sense. With Connor McDavid as the first line centre and Leon Draisaitl as the second line centre, Trocheck would be a good fit on the third line.
If the Oilers needed to win a face-off on the penalty kill or power play, or needed to win a face-off towards the end of a game or even in overtime for possession, Trocheck would be the player to fill these roles because he is pretty well the best in the league at it, so it makes the most sense.
Having a third line player that can win face-offs and have great production in the process is why Edmonton would really benefit from a player of his pedigree. Unfortunately, there are some factors in place right now that Trocheck to the Oilers cannot happen.
Why it works, but cannot
At the moment, Vincent Trocheck will most likely be traded before the deadline, but has said that he is only willing to stay within the East and will not go anywhere else.
“Yeah, it’s not a secret, they are on my no-trade clause,” Trocheck said. “Family is important to me. My family’s on the East Coast.”
Trocheck won’t go to a West Coast team if traded
With three years remaining on his seven-year, $39.375M contract ($5.625M average annual value) it is currently up in the air where he will be traded to, but the Edmonton Oilers will not be that team unfortunately.
With Connor Murphy being the most recent addition to the team, who is another player available that the Oilers could pick up before the deadline?
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