NHL Rumors: Panthers discussing six-year deal with Vincent Trocheck
The Florida Panthers and restricted free agent center Vincent Trocheck are discussing a six-year deal.
The Florida Panthers plan to stay busy this off-season by not only adding to their already impressive talent but also extending their impressive talent for as long as they can. Florida has been especially aggressive with their centers recently, with Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad each signing long-term deals. They are now trying to lock up young center Vincent Trocheck, who is a restricted free agent.
Hearing #FlaPanthers offering Vincent Trocheck six year deal, money bit of a hangup but neither side seems concerned.
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) May 26, 2016
Florida’s decision to be aggressive in extending Bjugstad and Barkov has already paid dividends. Bjugstad, though he had an injury-ridden 2015-16 season, still looks to be a very promising center. Barkov has developed into one of the best centers in the NHL. Trocheck had a breakout season in 2015-16 with 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 76 games. He added one assist in two playoff games.
Money seems to be the primary holdup for this deal. Naturally, the Panthers probably want to pay Trocheck as low a price as they reasonably can. He did, after all, have just 30 points in his first 70 games before the 2015-16 season.
On the other hand, Trocheck and his agent would like to make as much money as they can. Can that happen with a long-term deal? Or will Trocheck and his agent decide to take a gamble with a bridge deal and hope that he can improve his resume enough to get a more lucrative long-term deal? That might be a gamble worth taking for the talented Trocheck.
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