Rangers sign free agents Vincent Trocheck, Jaroslav Halak
NEW YORK -- The Rangers have a new second-line center and backup to Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Igor Shesterkin.
New York struck quickly as free agency opened Wednesday, coming to terms with Vincent Trocheck on a seven-year contract that will pay him $5.625 million in average annual value, and reaching a one-year deal with veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak for $1.55 million.
It's official. 🗽
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 13, 2022
Welcome to #NYR, Vinny! https://t.co/ItAEOGZmPh pic.twitter.com/W6wtS1F9LI
Trocheck, who turned 29 on Monday, is coming off a 51-point season for the Carolina Hurricanes. He replaces trade deadline acquisition Andrew Copp, who signed a five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
Trocheck's best season came with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18, when he set career highs with 31 goals, 44 assists and 75 points. He has scored at least 20 goals four times in 10 NHL seasons.
Drury on Halak: “Excited to have him on our side in The Garden. He’s a good fit all around - his age, his experience, the contract.”
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 13, 2022
Halak, who has played for six teams since breaking into the league during the 2006-07 season, has 285 wins, a 2.49 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, and 52 shutouts in 556 career appearances. The 37-year-old appeared in 17 games last season for the Vancouver Canucks, posting a 4-7-2 record, 2.94 GAA and .903 save percentage.
He replaces Alexandar Georgiev, who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for three draft picks on July 7.