What’s next for Rangers if Vincent Trocheck sidelined by injury
Right now, only the New York Rangers and Vincent Trocheck know the severity of the upper-body injury the veteran center sustained against the Buffalo Sabres. But we all can agree that if Trocheck misses any length of time, it’s a significant blow to the Rangers.
Of course, it’s all speculative right now until the Rangers provide an update on Trocheck, who left the bench during the second period of their 4-0 win Thursday night in Buffalo. Before the puck dropped on the third period, the Rangers announced that the 32-year-old was out for the rest of the contest.
“He’s being evaluated for an upper-body injury right now. I don’t have anything else for you,” is all coach Mike Sullivan offered up after the game.
The Rangers canceled practice Friday in Pittsburgh, so an update likely won’t come until Saturday at their morning skate ahead of a road game against the Penguins.
Trocheck hasn’t missed a game in his first three seasons with the Rangers, since signing a seven-year, $39.38 million contract in July 2022. His $5.63 million average annual value is a relative bargain considering that he’s a top-six center who plays on a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, is one of the top face-off men in the League, plays a vital role on New York’s top power-play unit and penalty kill units and averages more than 21 minutes TOI.
He’s also a letter-wearing leader on the Rangers, and his intensity personifies how Sullivan wants the team to play.
“I think he’s at his best when he’s in the middle of it. That’s the type player he is, he’s a fierce competitor,” Sullivan stated during the preseason. “He plays the game with a lot of courage.”
So what are the Rangers options if Trocheck is out of the lineup, whether short term or for an extended period?
Move Mika Zibanejad back to center
Zibanejad began the season playing right wing on a line centered by J.T. Miller. But the 32-year-old has played nearly all of his 932 regular-season games in the NHL as a center. In the immediate aftermath of Trocheck’s injury, Sullivan moved Zibanejad back to the middle, between Panarin and Lafreniere. Conor Sheary moved up from the third line to take Zibanejad’s spot on the right side of Miller and Will Cuylle.
This seems to be the most logical move if Trocheck is unavailable. The Rangers remain strong down the middle, and it affords either Juuso Parssinen or Jonny Brodzinski — each a healthy scratch the first two games — to draw into the lineup on the wing. Sullivan can decide which one of Sheary, Parssinen or Brodzinski fits best in a top-six role and who should play on the third line with rookie Noah Laba and veteran Taylor Raddysh.
A variation of this option is to move Miller between Panarin and Lafreniere, and slide Zibanejad over to the middle, where he’d be flanked by Cuylle and one of the other aforementioned forwards. But Sullivan likely would’ve gone that route with Miller and Zibanejad on Thursday if he that was his preference.
Leave Mika Zibanejad on the wing, replace Vincent Trocheck with one of the extra forwards
In this scenario, the Rangers keep Zibanejad tethered to Miller to let them continue building their on-ice chemistry. Since Parssinen and Brodzinski each can play center, either could slide into Trocheck’s spot. This creates the least upheaval in the lineup. However, it also weakens the Rangers down the middle since neither Parssinen nor Brodzinski is more than a bottom-six center on a contending team.
Trust the kids
Here are a couple of longshot options. If the Rangers prefer Miller and Zibanejad stick together, they could bump Laba up from third line to the second line. The 22-year-old did lead the Rangers in scoring this preseason with six points (one goal, five assists) and certainly hasn’t looked overwhelmed in his first two NHL games. But that’s a major jump in responsibility considering Panarin and Lafreniere would be his linemates — and neither is exactly a Selke Award candidate. But playing along with that theme, either Parssinen or Brodzinski slots in comfortably at 3C.
If Trocheck is out longer term — a big IF, considering we don’t know if he’ll even miss a single game — the Rangers could place him on injured reserve, where he’d have to be out at least 10 games. That would open up a roster spot that the Rangers could fill by calling up (pick your choice) Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann or Brett Berard.
Each is a forward starting the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League. If Zibanejad replaces Trocheck at center and Sheary stays on the third line, the Rangers could give one of the kids a run on a line with Miller and Cuylle. This plan probably fits Perreault best, even though he’s 20 and has the least pro experience. Simply, he’s the most skilled option among the three young forwards. Of course, this would piss off Parssinen and Brodzinski to no end, since each player is far more experienced and been waiting for his opportunity to play.
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