TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 9: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on November 9, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)The New York Rangers recently signed center Vincent Trocheck away from the Carolina Hurricanes and this move should pay quick and viable dividends for the Rangers. For his part, Trocheck brings a lot to the table for the Blueshirts and he should have an immediate, positive impact this season.
Offense
Trocheck is a stable offensive producer and last season with the Hurricanes produced 21 goals and 30 assists in 81 games last year. In addition, Trocheck helped the ‘Canes playoff drive with ten additional points including six goals. Trocheck averages .61 goals per game over a number of past seasons and looks to keep that scoring streak alive each night with the Rangers. Realistically, Trocheck could be paired up with the first or second line but in all likelihood, he could be linked up to play alongside left winger Artemi Panarin. A Trocheck-Panarin line could be a potent goal scoring tandem (Panarin had 22 goals and 74 assists last year in the Rangers push through the Eastern Conference finals.)
Winning Faceoffs
Another tangible area Trocheck will help the Rangers this season is inside the faceoff circle. Trocheck’s statistics don’t lie – throughout his career, he’s won 52.1% of faceoffs last season and has a career average of 54.6% faceoff wins. Trocheck is particularly adept at winning defensive zone faceoffs and creating possession changes. In fact, only 17 players including Trocheck had 500 or more defensive zone faceoffs and Trocheck won 56.0% of those puck drops which was in the NHL’s top five in 2021-22.
Special Teams & Defense
In addition to Trocheck’s scoring capabilities and faceoff win prowess, he has built a career around an additional strength-special teams. Trocheck spent last season in Carolina and averaged nearly three minutes of power play ice time and almost two minutes of shorthanded ice time as well. In fact, Trocheck was on the ice for almost 64% of the Hurricanes power play time in 2021-22. Trocheck found himself in a small but elite group of forwards who averaged these statistics last season and looks to add this dimension to his ice time with the Rangers.
While not necessarily a special team’s category, when Trocheck was on the ice with the Hurricanes, their netminders had a .940 SV average when at full strength. Adding to his physicality, Trocheck has recorded at least 50 takeaways over the past few seasons and his puck-winning capabilities should help the Rangers move out of their defensive zone quickly when he’s on the ice.
Overall Impression
Rangers GM Chris Drury was on target when he signed Vincent Trocheck away from the rival Hurricanes this off-season. Rangers fans can expect that Trocheck will transition into a Blueshirts quickly and possibly team up with Artemi Panarin to make an immediate impact as the Rangers have their sights on the Stanley Cup finals this year after a very successful 2021-22
