Vincent Trocheck has been the Rangers’ rock this season.
The consistency with which he’s played nearly every single game has not only helped the Blueshirts effectively withstand a slew of injuries to key players, but he’s also led the club to an impressive 6-1-0 record in games following losses.
Trocheck has a hand in so many different aspects of the Rangers’ game, and he’s simply elevated it all in what could pan out to be a career season.
“Like people say, forecheck, backcheck, Trocheck,” Artemi Panarin told The Post with a smile.
Sunday night’s 4-1 win over the red-hot Kings was just the latest example of Trocheck’s overall impact on a game-to-game basis.
Posting a stat line of three primary assists, a 76.2 faceoff win percentage (16 of 21), three shots on goal and one hit in 25:32 of ice time, which led all forwards on the ice, Trocheck was in the middle of it all just as he usually is.
Trocheck made the extra pass to Mika Zibanejad on the power play to open the scoring.
He found his way into most post-whistle scrums.
And his backhanded feed set up rookie Will Cuylle to seal the win.
This kind of effort is what the Rangers have come to expect from Trocheck in the wake of losses.
He assisted on the game-winner in the second Red Wings game, posted two goals in the first Red Wings game and scored the game-winning power-play goal against the Coyotes — all wins following losses.
“He’s really doing it all, if you think about it,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Faceoffs, penalty kill, defensive zone, offensive zone, power play, he’s out there in the final seconds of a tight game. Certainly a good leader. His physical play. I mean, he really brings the whole package and he’s done it consistently.”
The 30-year-old center was charged with coming in and replacing a beloved former Ranger in Ryan Strome last season, when he signed what is now looking like a bargain seven-year, $39.4 million deal.
Donning the same No. 16, Trocheck had big shoes to fill on a line alongside Panarin and as a presence in the locker room.
He’s delivered in full on both fronts, especially with six goals and 19 assists through 26 games this season, while also bringing elements that Strome didn’t.
When Filip Chytil went down over five weeks ago and vacated the second-line center spot, Trocheck stepped in seamlessly.
Leading the entire NHL in faceoffs with a 63.6 percent mark, Trocheck has been dominant at the dots.
His contributions on both special teams have been felt.
The spunk and swagger with which he plays the game infuriates opponents.
“He plays with an edge to him,” Jonny Brodzinski said. “I think that’s what everybody loves on this team.”
Unsung is a word that has been repeatedly used to describe Trocheck by his teammates.
The way Trocheck articulates it, is that he’s just trying to do his part.
Either way, Trocheck is on pace for 78 points this season, which would surpass the career high of 75 points he posted in 2017-18 with the Panthers.
The points, however, have just been a welcomed added bonus.
It’s his all-around play that the Rangers truly appreciate.
“He is unbelievable this year,” Panarin said. “Especially [Sunday night], he made huge passes like right at the goal. It’s great to have him on our team, especially on [my] line. I hope he can play like that all year, or [all his] life.”
The next five years will do just fine.
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