During the Four Nations Tournament, Vincent Trocheck was one of Team USA's depth additions. Despite playing mostly in a fourth-line role, Trocheck's play during the tournament was limited, which impacted his difficult tournament. Still, the Pittsburgh native found himself centering the fourth line, and it became evident that his influence on the ice was not as significant as it was for the Rangers. His depleted impact meant he wasn't as effective as he was for the Rangers.
For New York, Trocheck has served as the first-line center for the Rangers, being the traditional finisher when Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere create chances. He kills penalties and serves on the Rangers' top powerplay unit. Due to all the talent the US had, there wasn't room for Trocheck on the top powerplay unit, and he was one of the rotations on the penalty kill, limiting the overall impact he could have without impactful deployment.
Throughout the tournament, Vinny appeared empty in the four games he played. That's not a shock, considering he was playing a fourth-line role. Trocheck's utility was always going to be an issue, but the Rangers will be looking for Trocheck to return to the traditional style of play he has used for the Rangers. He'll be going back to his dynamic two-way game and his free-flowing offense in the Rangers' top six and its impact on the team's success.
New York needs the former Carolina Hurricane and Florida Panther to continue to excel with Mika Zibanejad's struggles and the readjustment that J.T. Miller has needed after his trade. Trocheck is one of the most dynamic forwards New York has this season, and they will need more production than what he got at this tournament. He was outshone at the Four Nations, but he is a star when he's playing at the NHL level.