Consider that finished business.
After falling just short in overtime at the Four Nations final, USA Hockey has slayed their demons from up North in a thrilling Olympic gold medal game by a score of 2-1, once again requiring overtime.
Mike Sullivan pushed the right buttons through the course of the tournament, and the American squad that had started slow in the first two games of the group stage had gotten better and better with each game. The Rangers head coach now adds an Olympic gold medal game win to his impressive resume, which includes two Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
It’s a good thing he didn’t listen to my advice in my last blog, and shame on me for doubting the ability of JT Miller and Vinny Trocheck as role players for the US squad. Both players played every game of the tournament, played key roles as checkers at even strength, and Trocheck was an ace in the face off circle.
Their most impressive achievement came short handed. They heavily contributed to a US penalty kill that was perfect through the entirety of the Olympics. That includes group play and elimination games. 18 total penalties. Zero power play goals against. Among those penalties killed off was an extended 5 on 3 opportunity for Canada in the second period of the gold medal game that will have players and fans of Hockey Canada losing sleep for the foreseeable future. The Americans also killed a brief Canadian power play in the dying moments of regulation to keep the game tied at one goal a piece and send it to 3 on 3 overtime.
With that being said, I’ll be the first to eat my hat. I was clear in my stance that, although I love Vinny Trocheck as a Ranger, I didn’t feel like he belonged on this roster. If they had lost today, I might have still told you I was wrong about that. He, and Miller, did everything they were asked to do in terms of their checking role, and even threatened to score a goal or two each throughout the elimination round.
Mollie Walker got a great quote from Trocheck following the historic win.
Speaking of Mollie, she did a phenomenal job covering Olympic Hockey for the New York Post, just another great performance at the Olympics from someone connected to the Rangers.
While Miller failed to record a point through six games, Trocheck managed three assists at the games, as well as a memorable lip reading moment caught on camera leading up to the medal ceremony.
Trocheck might have also led the tournament in committing to the bit.
Following the Olympics, the focus for the Rangers becomes the trade deadline, in which it seems increasingly likely Trocheck will be one of the most sought after centers on the market. If we really are nearing the end of his time as a Ranger, I’m beyond proud to have had him represent the team at the Olympic games, and I’ll be forever grateful for the memories created over the past two weeks, along with all the other great moments he’s had since joining the team as a free agent prior to the 2022-2023 season. Vincent Trocheck is, and always will be, a phenomenal Ranger.
If he has to go, I’d love for the Wild to find a way to make the money work and give him a good chance to win with fellow American gold medalists Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy, who both scored massive goals in the elimination round, and also Brock Faber, who was a stalwart on the American blue line. If he can’t fit in there, then just get me the most value in return possible in terms of draft capital, I don’t really care who it’s from.
If JT Miller stays healthy enough to play the rest of the season, I hope the Olympic gold medal run sparks a change of energy for the first year captain of the Rangers, who has seemed hopelessly frustrated with the way everything has gone with his own play and the play of the team. Miller and Mika Zibanejad are the leaders of this team for the foreseeable future, like it or not. Miller needs to correct the course of his captaincy immediately and find a way to garner some semblance of positivity out of the room down the stretch run. Not an easy thing to do on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, but it’ll have to start with his own performance.
Speaking of Zibanejad, I’d be remiss to not touch on his performance for Sweden at the games. Mika was a major component of the team, playing in a top line center role, and gathering 3 goals and 3 assists over the course of 5 games, including a late game tying goal against the US in their quarterfinal matchup in which Sweden ultimately fell short in overtime. This continues the trend of a bounce back season for Mika, who now becomes the most important offensive weapon for the Rangers in the post Panarin era.
Coming back from the Olympic break, the rangers sit dead last in the division, dead last in the East, and 30th out of 32 teams in the league. I have a feeling as the weeks go by, we will be increasingly discussing draft position and potential Rangers prospects. Perhaps Gavin McKenna will be a topic of conversation? The young phenom is red hot following an 8 point performance for Penn State this past week.
Mike Sullivan and the PK boys made me proud to be an American this morning. The 46 year gold medal drought is over. Lake Placid in 1980 was a miracle. Milan in 2026 was destiny. USA Hockey sweeps the games winning gold in Men’s and Women’s, and I’m as free as a bird now. And this bird you cannot change.
The Morning Skate 