For weeks, Vincent Trocheck spoke like a player who was prepared to be traded.
He shared his preferences for a destination that his 12-team no-trade list afforded him.
He opened up about the impact ongoing trade chatter had on his family, most notably 7-year-old son Leo’s wholesome reaction to the possibility of his father getting traded that tugged at hockey fans’ heart strings.
Yet there was Trocheck on Saturday afternoon wearing red, white and blue, skating in his usual second-line center post as the Rangers lost, 6-3, to the Devils at Prudential Center.
The chances of him being in another team’s lineup that day had been high before Friday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline came and went without an offer that satisfied general manager Chris Drury.
Trocheck said he found out he was still a Ranger “probably the same time” we did.
So what were his emotions when he realized he was staying put for at least the rest of the 2025-26 season?
“I don’t know. I was just happy for it all to be over with,” Trocheck said after the game. “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.”
The 32-year-old Trocheck conducted himself like a true veteran while fielding questions about his Rangers future in the days leading up to the deadline.
His familiarity with the situation was evident, though he noted he felt his name was out there a little bit more than in the past.
With 20 games left in the season, Trocheck said he’ll try to help out the abundance of young players on the team as best as he can.
“He’s been terrific,” coach Mike Sullivan said of how he saw Trocheck navigate the last few weeks. “He’s such a good pro. He’s a great person, he’s a great leader, and he’s a terrific hockey player. I think he’s done a really good job under difficult circumstances, just trying to navigate through it. I always use the word ‘compartmentalize’ it and try to go out and play when the puck drops, and that’s when he’s at his best. I think, moving forward, there’s a lot of unknowns. And so, right now, Troch is a New York Ranger, and we’re thrilled to have him.”
If Saturday’s game meant anything to either team, it would’ve been considered a riveting, back-and-forth contest.
Alas, the two clubs were stacked atop one another in the basement of the Metropolitan Division entering their first meeting of the season.
Both teams severely underperformed in recent months and are far out of the playoff picture.
The Battle of the Hudson moniker doesn’t really apply when neither team is battling for anything.
Saturday may have been meaningless, but it was a competitive affair nonetheless.
Jack Hughes led the Devils with his fourth career hat trick against his Team USA teammate (Trocheck) and bench boss (Sullivan).
The Rangers were crushed in the special teams game, going 0-for-4 on the power play and giving up a goal on all three man-advantage opportunities for the Devils.
Trocheck, of course, saw ice time in both game situations. Will Cuylle, who lived with Trocheck during his rookie season, was just happy to see him back in the locker room.
“Since the start, he’s always been the guy I’ve looked up to personally,” Cuylle told The Post after the loss. “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.”
The Rangers will likely revisit a potential trade for Trocheck in the offseason.
For now, however, Trocheck is prepared to do what he’s always done for the Rangers.
He refuted the notion that there was any awkwardness for him after the whole ordeal.
“These are my teammates. I’ve been teammates with these guys for four years, so …,” Trocheck said. “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. “
