In their first year under head coach Peter Laviolette, the Rangers have remained one of the top teams in hockey. They currently sit atop the Metropolitan Division and are second in the league, just a few point behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
Their offense has been an absolute juggernaut from top-to-bottom, and among the top performers is center Vincent Trocheck.
The 30-year-old does has been absolutely spectacular all over the ice in his second season in the Big Apple. When the Rangers have needed a big play or clutch face-off win, Trocheck has been their guy, and his teammates have certainly taken notice.
“He’s in a way one of the unsung guys on this team that isn’t always getting big name recognition,” captain Jacob Trouba said. “He’s always been great. He’s a guy that always just brings it every night and is so consistent you never really notice if he’s up or down.
“He’s been one of our best players. Wether he’s retrieving pucks, he plays hard and gets in on the forecheck. Even on the power play the puck retrieval is massive with him and what he brings. He’s very deserving of the season he’s having thus far.”
As he's done throughout the campaign, Trocheck played hero Saturday night in Boston, becoming just the sixth player in franchise history to score the tying and game-winning goals in New York’s overtime win.
It certainly wasn't always pretty, but the veteran said he was happy with how the guys battled to grind out the two points.
“Being able to stick together, stay with it and stick up for each other,” the center told reporters postgame. “I think that tells you a lot about this group from a grit and togetherness standpoint, especially doing it against a team like that.”
Trocheck’s been thriving since being bumped up in the lineup to take over for the injured Filip Chytil in between talented wingers Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere on New York’s second line.
He has seven goals and 16 assists since then, stretching his season total to 27, while also being one of the top centers in hockey winning a spectacular 63 percent of the face-offs he’s taken.
“He’s really doing it all,” Laviolette said. “Face-offs, penalty kill, offensive zone, defensive zone, power play, he’s out there in the final seconds of close games. He really brings the full package and he’s done it consistently for this team.”