With the way this season has gone for the New York Rangers, Team USA’s historic Olympic gold is pretty much the only thing to celebrate. In particular, seeing J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck earn a major championship is certainly cause for jubilation among Rangers fans.
Otherwise, there hasn’t been much cause for happiness this season on Broadway. The Rangers’ tough season has hit more lows than highs. The club hasn’t lived up to expectations, while fans endure misstep after misstep by the front office.
That’s why Miller and Trocheck’s gold medal performances will go down as the high-water mark in what has been one of the most forgettable seasons for the Rangers. While neither Miller nor Trocheck played an outstanding role for Team USA, their contributions should not go unnoticed.
Miller played mostly a fourth-line role. He was crucial in killing penalties. In particular, he was the lone forward during a good chunk of a 5-on-3 power play for Team Canada during the second period of the gold-medal game.
Trocheck, for his part, played somewhat of a rover role. He was the 13th forward at times. But not having a specific place in the lineup did not diminish his role. Coach Mike Sullivan did a great job of bringing Trocheck in whenever the situation required a solid, experienced forward.
That’s why Trocheck and Miller’s understated roles will be forever linked to Team USA’s historic victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Trocheck’s Broadway engagement could be coming to an end soon
For the time being, the Rangers will have two gold-medal Olympians hitting the ice when play resumes later this month.
But for Trocheck in particular, his Broadway engagement may be coming to an end soon. Speculation about the 32-year-old leaving New York has not gone away. If anything, it’s picked up. Considering that Trocheck is now an Olympic champion, teams interested in the 32-year-old may feel that experience could be just what they need.
At the moment, there’s no indication that a trade is imminent. But that’s something that could change at the drop of a hat. Rosters unfreeze on Monday, meaning that a flurry of trades could be upon us.
If the aftermath of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off was any indication, several trades could be coming down the pipeline in the next couple of weeks. It’s also worth pointing out that the March 6 NHL trade deadline is about 11 days away.
So, the potential for head-spinning activity is certainly there. It will be interesting to see if Trocheck remains in New York on March 7.