Vincent Trocheck returns to practice but won't play on Tuesday for Rangers
Vincent Trocheck of the Rangers celebrates his third-period goal against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 5. Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH — Center Vincent Trocheck rejoined the Rangers for practice Monday, working in a red non-contact jersey. And while Trocheck, who has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury, isn’t ready to play quite yet, his imminent return gave the team a lift.
“Obviously, it’s huge,’’ Mika Zibanejad said. “Just even an energy boost to see him around and having him on the ice in practice. Obviously, he’s a big part of our team. Can’t wait to have him back. It was awesome to see him again.”
“It’s really good. Really good,’’ forward Alexis Lafreniere said. “It’s been so long. He’s such a big part of our team, and to see him back is good for the energy, and hopefully he can be back for a game soon, and [helping the team] winning games.’’
Trocheck left late in the second period at Buffalo in the Rangers’ second game of the season. He was placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning he needed to miss at least 10 games and at least 24 days, retroactive to Oct. 10, the day after the Buffalo game.
He is eligible to return when the Rangers host the Hurricanes (who will be without the injured K’Andre Miller) on Tuesday, but he won’t return that day. Coach Mike Sullivan said he’ll have a better sense of when Trocheck might return “over the next couple of days.’’
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen missed practice with a lower-body injury (he’s day-to-day, the team said). As insurance against Vaakanainen perhaps being unavailable Tuesday, the Rangers made a roster move Monday, placing right wing Matt Rempe on injured reserve and recalling defenseman Connor Mackey from AHL Hartford . . . They also made a roster move Sunday, returning forward Brennan Othmann to Hartford and calling up forward Jaroslav Chmelar, who practiced as the extra forward Monday.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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