The Case For Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck being named to NHL Network’s top-20 centers List
NHL Network named its top-20 centers on Wednesday, and New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck was not even ranked.Â
After recording 77 points this season, Trocheck was snubbed from the top-20 centers list again. He was second in team scoring in the regular season, ahead of Mika Zibanejad, who was ranked the 19th best center by NHL Network.
Many thought after the season Trocheck had, he would make the list heading into this season. However, he did not make the list for the second straight season. Meanwhile, the Rangers Hudson River Rival saw two players make the top-20 list. There is an argument to be made that Trocheck could be listed in the 11-20 range of top-20 centers in the NHL.
The Rangers were looking for a number two center behind Zibanejad. New York signed Trocheck to a seven-year contract worth $39.375 million in July 2022. The contract carries a salary cap hit of $5.625 million. He has been everything and more for the Rangers.
Related: Rangers’ Artemi Panarin named one of best wings in hockey by NHL Network analyst
Vincent Trocheck continues to improve, even in the playoffs
Over the past two seasons, Trocheck has improved at faceoffs. He led the Rangers, winning 58.7 percent of the draws he took. Trocheck ranked second on the team in scoring and set a new career-high with 77 points.Â
He also set a career-high with 52 assists while netting 25 goals. This was coming off a season where he recorded 64 points (22 goals and 42 assists) while winning 56.1 percent of faceoffs.
However, Trocheck took his game to new heights this year in the playoffs. The Rangers returned to the Eastern Conference Final, losing to the Florida Panthers. But in 16 games, Trocheck put up a team-high 20 points.
His eight goals were tied for the team lead with Alexis Lafreniere and Chris Kreider. His 12 assists were one short of the team lead in the playoffs behind Zibanejad’s 13. The Rangers’ best line last season was Aretemi Panarin-Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere.
Those players built a bond that allowed each player to shine in different games. Trocheck and Lafreniere found new gears playing alongside Panarin.
He plays a different style than Zibanejad does. It is not as flashy. Trocheck is more of a grinder, as he had 177 hits last season. He is not afraid to go to the dirty areas on the ice. So his game style may not fit what they are looking for when ranking centers, but to have one over the other is a tough sell considering the year Zibanejad had.
However, one thing is for sure: the New York Rangers have two excellent centers heading into the 2024-25 NHL Season. And it is not all bad news, with Igor Shesterkin being named the number one goalie and Artemi Panarin being named the fifth-best winger by NHL Network.
Let’s see where Adam Fox is listed when NHL Network releases their top-20 defensemen next Wednesday.
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