Rangers injury update: Vincent Trocheck week to week with upper-body issue
It didn’t take long for the New York Rangers to face some serious adversity this season. They confirmed Saturday that Vincent Trocheck is week to week with an upper-body injury.
Trocheck sustained the injury in a 4-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. His final shift of the game ended at 6:50 of the second period, though it wasn’t apparent when he was hurt or what the exact nature of the injury is. He left the bench and didn’t play again.
The 32-year-old center is one of the most invaluable players on the Rangers roster. He plays on their top line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, as well as on the first power-play unit and penalty kill. Trocheck is also an elite face-off man, who finished third in the NHL last season at 59.3 percent.
Trocheck scored 26 goals in 2024-25 and set a career high with 77 points (25 goals, 52 assists) the prior season, when he represented the Rangers at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game. He’s a seven-time 20-goal scorer who’s in his 13th NHL season.
“Well, he’s a tough guy to replace,” coach Mike Sullivan said after the Rangers morning skate Saturday in Pittsburgh. “He’s an extremely talented guy, plays in a lot of key situations for us, one of our better center-icemen in the face-off circle. Obviously plays in every situation. … Those guys aren’t easy to replace, nut now it’s going to provide opportunities for others to step up, and we’ll see what we have.”
Moreover, Trocheck’s leadership and non-stop motor, abrasiveness, and big-game persona will be missed on a Rangers team trying to rebound under their new coach after a miserably disappointing season a year ago. Trocheck is one of New York’s alternate captains and most respected players within their dressing room.
Playing without Trocheck is unchartered territory for the Rangers. Since he signed a seven-year, $39.38 contract on July 13, 2022, Trocheck’s not missed a single game. He appeared in 248 regular-season contests, including the first two this season, and 23 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rangers juggle line combinations with Vincent Trocheck out
With Trocheck out, Mika Zibanejad shifts back to the center position after opening the season on right wing. An experienced center, Zibanejad should have no issues re-adjusting to his longtime position. The 32-year-old replaces Trocheck in the middle of the top line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. And on the top power-play unit, Lafreniere will take Trocheck’s spot, moving up from PP2.
Sullivan was asked why he decided the best course of action was to split up Zibanejad and his preferred linemate, J.T. Miller.
“Because I think we need balance … and we need to give some of our other offensive people a center-iceman that can think the game at their level and give them an opportunity to set them up for success,” Sullivan explained.
The Rangers depth will be tested with such an important player missing from the top six. Veteran Conor Sheary, who made the team after attending training camp on a PTO, bumps up from the third line into Zibanejad’s original spot to the right of J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle.
The 33-year-old helped Sullivan and the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, but he’s scored 20 goals only once in his career, and played only five NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. Even Sullivan pointed out in the preseason that Sheary is best suited for a bottom-six role.
Juuso Parssinen draws back into the lineup when the Rangers visit the Penguins on Saturday. The 24-year-old was a healthy scratch the first two games after rookie Noah Laba beat him out for the third-line center role with the Rangers.
Parssinen told reporters after the morning skate that he’s remained “positive” the past week and is “excited” to play Saturday.
“A lot of energy. First game of the season for myself, so that’s always fun. I’m trying to bring my game and help the guys get the win.”
With Trocheck out, the Rangers have 22 healthy players on the roster, including extra forward Jonny Brodzinski and defenseman Matthew Robertson.
Pittsburgh Penguins correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report
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