It has been quite the year for Vincent Trocheck. At the beginning of the year I believe we all had slated Filip Chytil in for second line center and dropped Trocheck down to the third to serve more of a “checking line” center role. You can never question Trochecks compete level but I couldn’t have been the only one not entirely thrilled that at that point the Rangers were paying their third line center 5.6 million dollars until the 2028-29 season. Was this an overpayment?
Through the first 10 games of the season, Trocheck had scored just 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points. Then, on November 2, Filip Chytil was injured again and Trocheck was bumped up to play along side star winger Artemi Panarin and first round pick Alexis Lafreniere, who was still trying to find his game.
Since the first game following Chytils injury, Trocheck has skated in 13 games compiling 5 goals and 13 assists for 18 points. Of those 13 games, Trocheck was held off of the scoresheet just 3 times. Is that good?
While Trochecks numbers look fantastic, a good center makes the players around them better – they help with possession, they help on the defensive side of the puck in terms of getting back to the house, they help create breakouts by battling for loose pucks or supporting their defenseman and limit the time in the defensive zone – Since Trocheck was put beside Artemi Panarin, Panarin has scored 10 times while assisting 9 times for a total of 19 points. The Breadman has not skipped a beat and has continued to produce at a ridiculous pace but the numbers that stand out are for former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere.
At the moment Chytil was injured, Lafreniere had scored just 4 times in 10 games, Following the game on November 2nd, and once put on a wing with Vincent Trocheck, Lafreniere has scored 4 more times and assisted on 7 other goals, accounting for 11 points in 13 games – almost a point per game clip. Playing with Panarin definitely helps put the puck in the back of the net but you can see the confidence starting to shine in Lafreniere game. His 33 shots in those 13 games are sitting at a 2.5 shots a game clip since Trocheck has been put in the middle. In comparison, Lafrienere was averaging just 1.3 shots per game playing with Chytil. Panarin continues to dazzle and Lafreniere continues to play like he belongs in the top 6.
The Rangers currently are first in the NHL in face-off percentage at 56.1% and guess who is leading that charge? Yup, our boy Vinny. Trocheck ranks number 1 in the NHL in face-offs, winning 64.08% of face-offs taken. The Broadway Blueshirts have come a long way in the face off dot and Trocheck is a huge reason why. Laviolette knows he can put Trocheck on the ice at the end of games to help win a big defensive zone draw. Not only are the Rangers masters at the dot, but they also have the third best power play in the league with 21 goals – of those 21 goals, Trocheck has played a hand in 7 of them, accumulating 4 goals and 3 assists with the man advantage.
Since 11/2, Vincent Trocheck could be considered New Yorks most important player. He has allowed the Breadman to stay hot, helped Lafreniere find his groove, has played a huge role in puck possession for the Rangers- not just at the dot but in the defensive zone- and has been a reliable Power Play piece. Why did the Rangers pay him 5.6 million dollars a year? That’s why.
Trocheck came on our podcast a while ago when he was playing for the Hurricanes. If you want to find out more about him, tune in here. He was a great interview and a really cool guy to sit down with and talk hockey.
The Morning Skate 