The New York Rangers’ December has gone from forgettable to frustrating, and with losses stacking up, it is fair to examine where the team needs real improvement. The Rangers are in an awkward spot because a player who was crucial to their success in November has become a liability this month. The downturn has been sharp and impossible to ignore, and the hope is that recent call-ups and potential line changes can help get Vincent Trocheck back on track.
Trocheck’s return gave the Rangers a boost, but the impact has faded
Trocheck rejoined the lineup in November and immediately made a difference. Over 11 games, he recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points while averaging just over 20 minutes per night. During that stretch, he posted strong possession numbers with a 55.85 GF% and a 56.1 CF%, though his 44.59 xGF% hinted that the results were better than the underlying play suggested. That gap has since caught up to him, which helps explain his struggles in December.
So far this month, the Rangers’ alternate captain has played eight games and produced only four assists, firing 13 shots without scoring a goal. His ice time has jumped to 22:35 per game, but the heavier workload has not helped. In nearly 125 minutes at five-on-five, Trocheck owns a rough 32.32 GF%, a 43.23 CF%, and a 43.23 xGF%.
Compared to November, his GF% has dropped by more than 23 points, his CF% by nearly 13, while his xGF% has barely changed. That stability in expected goals suggests his November production was driven in part by a hot streak following his return. While the Rangers have faced tougher opponents recently, they have also stumbled in games they should have controlled.
What Trocheck’s advanced metrics say
Expected goals for percentage is not perfect, but it helps show whether a player is creating quality chances. There are times when players do the right things and get unlucky, and other times when they ride an unsustainable scoring run despite weak underlying numbers. Another useful indicator is PDO, which combines shooting percentage and on-ice save percentage.
Trocheck’s December PDO sits at 96.6, pointing to some bad luck. He has not scored a goal this month, which clearly drags that number down. At the same time, his xGF% does not suggest he has been creating many prime scoring chances.
In November, his PDO was 104.87, fueled by a very high 19.5 percent shooting rate that made up for a poor on-ice save percentage. Since a PDO around 100 is considered normal, anything well above that is usually luck-driven, while anything well below suggests misfortune. For Trocheck, the contrast between the two months has been stark, and the Rangers need the positive version to reappear.
How the Rangers might get Trocheck going again
One possible solution is moving Trocheck to the third line, where he would face weaker matchups and potentially regain confidence. That could work if Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller remain ahead of him down the middle. When Trocheck is driving play and producing, the Rangers are a much better team, and that has not been the case lately.
Because of that, head coach Mike Sullivan may need to shake up the lines and see if Trocheck benefits from a different look away from familiar chemistry. There is also a chance that Miller’s struggles are impacting Trocheck, as Miller’s December numbers include a 39.38 GF%, a 44.68 CF%, and a 49.14 xGF%.
With Gabe Perreault recalled from Hartford, the Rangers could also experiment with a new top-six combination that includes him alongside young forward Noah Laba. It may be a long shot, but it is an option they have not explored. That scenario would push Trocheck into a third-line role, which could be just what he needs, at least in the short term, to rediscover his game.