The New York Rangers’ quartet of U.S. team members from the 4 Nations tournament came home empty-handed — and, in Vincent Trocheck’s case, banged up.
Trocheck broke a finger in the U.S. team’s loss to Sweden on Monday, two U.S. team sources told The Athletic on Friday. Trocheck did not practice with the Rangers on Friday ahead of its first game back, in Buffalo on Saturday, like his U.S. teammates.
A league source indicated that Trocheck will not miss any time with the injury.
“He hasn’t missed any games so as far as Vince goes we have nothing to report,” coach Peter Laviolette said.
Trocheck played 10:03 in the overtime championship loss to Canada on Thursday. Only Rangers teammate Chris Kreider played less among the U.S. players.
The Rangers currently sit three points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. General manager Chris Drury, who has already traded captain Jacob Trouba and former first-round picks Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil while acquiring J.T. Miller in the past three months, may still be looking to further remake the roster ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
But the Rangers could also push for a playoff spot — and losing Trocheck, who is second on the team with 17 goals, at this point in the season could help determine which path Drury takes in the next two weeks.
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