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Rangers star had ‘roller coaster of emotions’ before trade deadline
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- Rangers star had ‘roller coaster of emotions’ before trade deadline
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Likely no one wearing the New York Rangers sweater Saturday at Prudential Center was happier that the NHL Trade Deadline passed than Vincent Trocheck .
Not that he was happy with the outcome, a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils that saw Olympic hero Jack Hughes score three goals and add an assist to continue his career-long torture of the Blueshirts. Rather, it was relief knowing he's with the Rangers for at least the rest of this season, after weeks of uncertainty about his short- and long-term future.
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"I was just happy for it all to be over with," he said after earning an assist and winning 13 of 22 face-offs in 22:52 of ice time. "It's a stressful waiting game whenever you're in talks like that. So for me, it was just a roller coaster of emotions. Now that it's done with, for now, it's nice."
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The Rangers scratched Trocheck and fourth-line center Sam Carrick for their 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday for one of sports' new terms – "roster management." General manager Chris Drury traded Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres hours before the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Friday but stuck to his word not to deal Trocheck unless someone met the price he wanted.
Trocheck told the media that he was sick and at home Friday – and that he found out "around the same time as you guys" that he was staying with the Rangers.
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"It was honestly maybe better off that I was (sick), because I'm in and out of sleep the whole day, so I wasn't really checking my phone a whole lot," he said. "But it is what it is. It's a business, and it's not the first time my name has been mentioned in trade rumors. If it happens, it happens."
'No awkwardness' for Vincent Trocheck after he's not traded by Rangers
He said there's no awkwardness involved in playing for the team that most of the hockey world expected would trade him a day earlier.
"Awkwardness? No, I mean, these are my teammates. I've been teammates with these guys for four years," said Trocheck, who signed a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $5.625 million with the Rangers on July 13, 2022. "We're all obviously open and honest with each other. And it was kind of like you guys said, a welcome back whenever I saw them today for the first time in a couple days. But no, it's not awkward. It's just, it is what it is.
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"I've been through it before, and this time wasn't really any different – just that my name was out there a little bit more this year. I feel like I was able to handle it pretty well.
"At the end of the day, I'm here to play hockey, and I'm a New York Ranger right now."
Coach Mike Sullivan said before the game that he was impressed with Trocheck's professionalism in such a difficult situation.
"He's been terrific. He's such a good pro. He's a great person, he's a great leader, and he's a terrific hockey player," Sullivan stated. "I think he's done a really good job under difficult circumstances, just trying to navigate through it."
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Of course, there are no guarantees Trocheck won't be the subject of trade rumors as the NHL Draft, scheduled for Buffalo on June 26-27, and the start of free agency on July 1 draw nearer. But for now, he noted, "The trade deadline is over. I can't get traded for the rest of the year."
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Forward Will Cuylle, who was emotional after the game Thursday when it looked like Trocheck would be traded, was especially delighted that the deal didn't happen.
"Since the start, he's always been the guy I've looked up to personally," said the 24-year-old, who lived with Trocheck's family as a rookie. "Even when he didn't have a letter or anything, I thought he was one of the most important leaders on the team. Just off the ice, as well. Always involved, plays with heart and soul. I feel like he's kind of lived and breathed Rangers for the past however long he's been here."
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Center Mika Zibanejad is another Rangers star who's happy not to see Trocheck leave .
"I understand the situation we're in and all the talks and whatever. But there's a reason a lot of people talked about it – the type of player he is and what he means to the team; what he means to us still," Zibanejad said. "Selfishly, I'm happy that he's here — i'm happy that he's still with us. As a teammate and as a friend, I'm happy."
So what are Trocheck's objectives as he and his teammates prepare to navigate the final few weeks of a lost season?
"We've got about a month left; just go at this month the best you can. Try to better this team," he said . "For the young guys, try to help them as best I can – help them understand the game more and become better players for us in the future. For me, it's a matter of playing my game."
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