Veteran forward Vincent Trocheck is on the move, having been traded from the New York Rangers to the Utah Mammoth. The trade, which occurred earlier this month, was significant as Utah was previously on Trocheck's no-trade list. However, by the time of the deal, the Mammoth was no longer a destination he had the right to block. Trocheck expressed his happiness about joining the Mammoth, citing the owners' investment in the club and his belief that the team is nearing Stanley Cup contention. Trocheck, who signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers in July 2022, had 53 points in 67 games for New York last season.
In other news, defenseman Jayden Kurtz, a projected second or third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, has confirmed he will play for the Chicago Steel in the USHL for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Kurtz, ranked 61st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, spent part of last season with the Steel and the rest with Rogers High School in Minnesota. He is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2027-28 season. Kurtz's development has impressed scouts, who believe he is still developing his full potential as a defenseman.
The NHL has also announced that the 2026-27 regular season schedule will be released on July 16th. This upcoming season will feature an 84-game schedule for each team, marking the first time since the early 1990s that teams will play a full 84-game slate. The league is returning to this format as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Preseason games will be limited to a maximum of four per team.
