Vincent Trocheck’s early-season absence was much more than a simple upper-body injury.
The Rangers center revealed during Friday’s breakup day that he was hospitalized with viral bacteria in his lung.
“I thought I was just having back spasms, and then I played the first game,” he told reporters. “Got a little bit worse. Played in Buffalo. I got a cross check right in that area, and whatever fluid was in there it’s like bubbles, and I guess the bubble burst and it spread. So then it just got a lot worse. I had a lot of fluid around my lung, so I had to have surgery to get the fluid removed.”
His week-long hospital stay involved chest tubes and some serious fear.
“It was very scary,” he said. “I thought I was dying.”
The 32-year-old missed 15 games battling the malady, returning on Nov. 10 for a game against the Predators — in which he tallied a pair of assists.
He recuperated well enough to contribute to the US’ gold medal Olympic effort in Italy, where he was part of a standout American penalty kill unit.
Despite being a constant subject of trade rumors as the Rangers’ season went off the rails, Trocheck post 16 goals and 37 assists in 67 games.
