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Rangers regular season review: The top six

By Conor Power

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: The New York Rangers tap the boards during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2023 in New York City. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: The New York Rangers tap the boards during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 2023 in New York City. The Sabres defeated the Rangers 3-2 in the shootout. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the New York Rangers looks on before the first period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on March 23, 2023, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rangers win over Hurricanes 2-1. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the New York Rangers looks on before the first period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on March 23, 2023, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Rangers win over Hurricanes 2-1. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images) /

Vincent Trocheck

This was the first season on Broadway for New York’s number 16 Vincent Trocheck. Entering New York on the back of being the one big free-agent splash the New York Rangers made in the summer, there was some pressure on Trocheck to strengthen that second line that had been inconsistent at times under the guidance of Ryan Strome. New York wanted a second line to help produce.

Trocheck came in and lived up to that in every way imaginable. 22 goals and 42 helpers for 64 points saw Trocheck sit fourth on the roster in points and goals. While this does not seem like much, it is a major improvement over Strome’s production and it meant that the Rangers were able to win games when the first line was being contained by the opponent or just was not at the races.

Something we have seen that has gone under the radar with Vinny is that he is an annoying pest. In the postseason, players like Trocheck are worth their weight in gold. As the Rangers prepare for a round-one match-up with the New Jersey Devils, Trocheck is going to need to keep doing that. If he can get under the skin of the Devils and start to make them take dumb penalties, it could change the series entirely.

Coming from a defensively concrete team in Carolina, there was never any concern as to whether or not Trocheck would help the Blueshirts keep the puck out of their own net when he was on the ice. He had moments but overall it is safe to say that the addition of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native has worked very well to this point in time.

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