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Former Rangers star arrives in Utah with sarcastic quips, serious goals
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- Former Rangers star arrives in Utah with sarcastic quips, serious goals
Nine days after the New York Rangers traded Vincent Trocheck on July 1, their former All-Star center donned a Utah Mammoth jersey for the first time at an introductory press conference Friday. It was a different look, for sure. But Trocheck left no doubt that he's same the same guy the Rangers and their fans fell in love with the past four years.
Wearing his new threads while seated on a dais between Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong and longtime rival turned teammate Anders Lee, Trocheck's quick wit and passion for the game each was on display when he answered questions from the Salt Lake City media.
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His relationship with fellow Pittsburgh native Logan Cooley, Utah's talented 22-year-old forward, was a hot topic. And Trocheck delivered the goods.
"I wasn't 100 percent sure how real [the trade to Utah] was and he was texting me every day for what felt like two weeks asking me what was going on," Trocheck explained . "Every day at the rink [in Pittsburgh], we skate together in the summer. We'd always kind of fantasize a little bit about what it would be like to play together.
"I watched him when he was 12, and he was skating with us and making me look bad. He still does that now, but now to be able to play with him on the same team, I think it'll be cool."
When asked what Cooley told him about the Mammoth organization, Trocheck deadpanned, "He doesn't talk much honestly."
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Then Trocheck turned a bit more serious, well, at least for a moment, before the quips continued at Cooley's expense.
"He had nothing but great things to say [about the organization]. And I've been talking with him about the community, where I should live, and things like that. He has very little insight into those things."
At another point, the hulking Lee, the former Islanders captain who stands 6-foot-3 and is listed at 234 pounds, explained how he uses his size to support his physical style of play and ability to score "dirty goals."
When asked a follow-up question about his play style, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Trocheck joked, "I also like to use my size."
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For the record, Trocheck wasn't asked a single question about the Rangers nor the drawn-out eventual trade.
Winning 'most important' for Vincent Trocheck after trade from Rangers
Armstrong provided a hearty laugh-track to Trocheck's humorous commentary. But Utah's GM got serious when discussing why the Mammoth signed Lee, 36, to a three-year contract in free agency and traded defenseman Sean Durz i, center prospect Cole Beaudoin , and 2027 third-round draft pick to the Rangers for Trocheck , who turns 33 on Saturday.
"They play a hard game, an inside game with skill. They can beat you with their bodies or their minds. We needed that inside game."
Photo courtesy @utahmammoth on X
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The Mammoth were the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference this past season. But they lost in six games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.
Maintaining the serious tone, Trocheck explained that he removed the Mammoth from his original no-trade list because he believes they are a legit contender.
"Obviously a lot of potential and they've been taking a lot of strides the past few years," Trocheck stated. "They're a very good young team. And I think for me, one of the biggest things is just going to a team that has a chance to win.
"I've been in the League a long time and I haven't won anything, so that's what's most important to me."
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Trocheck brings 868 games of NHL experience as a standout two-way center to the Mammoth — though, ironically, he may play some on the wing this coming season. But you'd expect he'll take his fair share of face-offs, considering he's one of the best in the League in that department.
A seven-time 20-goal scorer, Trocheck has 239 goals and 631 points in the NHL. His 77 points with the Rangers in 2023-24, when he played in the NHL All-Star Game, is his career high.
Simply, Trocheck will be missed in New York. And by the looks of things, he's already off to a nice start in Utah.
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