Carolina Hurricanes center iceman Vincent Trocheck will head to the open market on Wednesday. And he will have a litany of suitors lining up to sign him.

The Pittsburgh native will hit free agency as one of the top centers on the market. Colorado Avalanche breakout star Nazem Kadri will demand the biggest paycheck, but Trocheck should see a decent payday himself.

The 29-year-old came to Carolina in 2019-20. The Hurricanes acquired him at the trade deadline from the Florida Panthers, in exchange for four players.

While Trocheck hasn't reached the same offensive heights as he did in 2017-18, he has emerged as a reliable top-six center. He has scored 96 points in 135 regular-season games in Carolina. And he added 10 points in 14 playoff games this year.

The clock struck midnight, ringing in Trocheck's 29th birthday while this was being written. Let's take a look at the veteran center's best three options on the open market, and why they are the right fit for him.

Vincent Trocheck: 3 best destinations in 2022 NHL Free Agency

1) Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings have attempted to find their second-line center through the draft. It hasn't seemed to work out quite well. So, the team should shift directions.

If Trocheck wants an immediate return to playoff hockey, Detroit wouldn't be the best bet. The team brought one of the top assistant coaches in the NHL to lead them in the future, but their roster isn't ready.

However, there is one thing Detroit has that a lot of teams can't offer the 29-year-old: money. The Red Wings had about $35 million in cap space prior to their trade-and-signing of goaltender Ville Husso.

That move didn't put a huge dent in their available space, and the team's restricted free agents shouldn't either. Detroit's primary concern will likely be the term. Trocheck might not be considered “old,” but the Wings have yet to shell out a free-agent contract longer than three years since Steve Yzerman took over in 2019.

Trocheck could fit in well on a line with Jakub Vrana and Filip Zadina. And he'd be a big part in trying to return the Wings to the playoffs.

2) Boston Bruins

The Bruins need depth down the middle. They've been working on bringing back captain Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. However, they'll still need a center iceman regardless of their negotiations with those two.

That's where Trocheck comes in. The Bruins are believed to be interested in Trocheck's services, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

Financially, it's a tricky situation. According to CapFriendly, the team has just over $2 million in space available. Trocheck will command more than that, so the Bruins would have to clear some money to sign the 29-year-old.

From a roster standpoint, this would be a beneficial move for both parties. Trocheck joins a team that, while their window is shutting, can make a respectable playoff run.

The Bruins would add more depth down the middle, and depending on the term, would give themselves a long-term option at the position. The team's only center signed past next season is Charlie Coyle.

It's expected that Bergeron will return to the Bruins on a one-year deal. Krejci's return to the NHL is still up in the air. However, Trocheck would be a worthwhile addition, no matter what happens.

3) New York Islanders

The Islanders had a massively disappointing season last year. They're looking for a change, as shown by their dismissal of Barry Trotz at the end of the season.

New York needs help at every position except for goaltender. There aren't a ton of established options for the Islanders down the middle. The situation there becomes even more dire if Mathew Barzal leaves.

Prior to their disappointing 2021-22 season, the Isles made the playoff final four each of the last two seasons. However, they lost both times to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Trocheck gives the Islanders a current established top-six center right now, and he can pair nicely with some of the longer-term options waiting in the wings.

2021 second-round pick Aatu Raty is a center by trade. He came over to North America following an impressive season in Finland, but he won't be ready for a year or two.

2018 second-round pick Ruslan Iskhakov may be closer to being NHL-ready. While a winger by trade, he can kick inside and play down the middle. He played college hockey in the US but went overseas after two years. The 21-year-old played in Finland and Germany these past few seasons.

The Islanders need additional help offensively. And they need quality depth down the middle. Trocheck provides both. Bringing the 29-year-old in may bring the team closer to returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.