A healthy consistent Vincent Trocheck is essential for the Florida Panthers to succeed.
The Florida Panthers are loaded with talented young players. Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Mike Matheson, Henrik Borgström, and MacKenzie Weegar to name a few.
While the “kids” are taking over, the veterans are providing excellent complimentary seasons as well, with Mike Hoffman recording his first 30+ goal season, Yandle’s first 60+ point season, and Dadonov’s first 70-point season.
However, amidst the record seasons from the above mentioned, the Panthers still found their season over before the playoffs even began.
While some asserted coaching ills, others invoke a lack of consistent goaltending and defense. Altogether, most believe that both needed to be addressed.
This offseason, the team appears to be addressing both. Future Hall of Farmer, Coach Quenneville, has been hired and it also appears the rumors are coming true: former Vezina trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky looks to be on his way to South Florida.
If both do indeed come to fruition, the Panthers will have a solid team on paper. There’s no question that the Cats should become a playoff contender and move up in the conversation for division favorites.
With that said, the Panthers are going to need to be running on all cylinders. The team will need leadership, passion, and energy on top of their talent.
The most influential talent and energetic presence, more beneficial to the team’s success than any other player, is that of a healthy and consistent Vincent Trocheck.
Trocheck is skilled; his speed is second to few and his shot is second to none. Last season, he was riddled with injuries, inconsistent linemates, and lacked confidence at times.
However, when allowed space and time, Trocheck has proven he will make you pay for leaving an opportunity open. He has put up 25, 23, and 31 goals the previous three seasons.
His offense is complemented by his grit and defensive play. He’s routinely used for key faceoffs, the penalty kill, and defensive zone responsibilities. Trocheck is sufficient at playing competitively at both ends of the ice against the opposing team’s top players.
While Barkov is unquestionably more skilled, Trocheck brings more than just talent to the Panthers team. His passion for the team’s success is expressed in every shift, with every hit, blocked shot, and scrum he engages in front of the net.
He’s consistently present and engaged in the emotionally charged moments of the game. In 2017-2018, when Trocheck netted 31 goals, he led the team in hits with 145 and was third on the team for blocked shots.
He’s an energy machine and when he’s thriving – Panthers fans are infatuated with him every time he steps onto the ice.
There’s no player comparable to Trocheck on the team when he’s on his game and no presence is more influential than his. The players know it as well.
In 2016, during the best season in Florida Panthers history, Trocheck went down with a foot injury towards the end of the season.
In a post-game interview, Jaromir Jagr commented on how the team not only lost the game but how they lost their best player in one uneventful evening.
It says a lot when a player of Jagr’s stature says that about you as a teammate, while he’s having a renaissance season of his own.
Trocheck is the epitome of hard work and grit. He plays a two-way game, gets his nose dirty and can still dazzle with his speed, stick handling, and blistering wrist shot.
You feel his passion at his high and lows and while Barkov is unquestionably the more skilled and well-rounded player, Trocheck is unquestionably the heartbeat of this team.
If the Panthers are going to succeed, it’s going to be behind a strong season from their “Rudy-like” figure in Trocheck, and a big bounce-back season looks to be in store for the former 30 goal scorer.