Upper St. Clair's Vincent Trocheck still trying to regain All-Star form

Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck had a big weekend earlier this month.

The New England Patriots lost.

As a native of Upper St. Clair, Trocheck didn’t mind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ long-time nemesis was eliminated from the NFL playoffs on Jan. 4 by the Tennessee Titans.

While he failed to disguise his glee, he was diplomatic when asked if he had become a Titans fan, albeit only on a temporary basis.

“I don’t think I was allowed to be,” Trocheck said. “There’s too many guys from Boston on our team. But still a diehard Steelers fan at heart.”

Oh yeah, there was also the matter of his own profession when he appeared in his 400th career game one day later.

That’s not exactly a defining milestone, but the notion of anyone from Western Pennsylvania appearing in even one NHL game would have been a chimera a generation or two ago.

Even a few hours before his team defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-1, in PPG Paints Arena on Jan. 5, Trocheck could take a moment to appreciate the notion he is one of the relatively few individuals from this corner of the globe to have a career of any length in the NHL.

“There are times … that it does make you sit back and think a little bit that it’s quite an accomplishment, and it’s quite an honor to do what I do on a daily basis,” Trocheck said when speaking with reporters before the game. “There is something about Pittsburgh. Coming from here, there’s a little bit added appreciation from people from Pittsburgh. Anytime somebody makes it from here, they make it a bigger deal. It’s definitely something that I respect and I appreciate.”

Of players born and trained, even if just partially, in the area, only Plum’s R.J. Umberger (779), Upper St. Clair’s Ryan Malone (666), Gibsonia’s Brandon Saad (569) and Coraopolis’ J.T. Miller (484) have played more career games in the NHL than Trocheck (407).

“It’s been a (heck) of a journey,” said Trocheck, 26. “Four hundred games is a lot of games. I never thought I’d get to this point in my career when I was younger. It’s an extreme honor, and to do it here in Pittsburgh is an added bonus.”

Trocheck might have reached that mark earlier this season were it not for a broken right ankle that sidelined him for 27 games in the middle of the 2018-19 season.

It was the first significant longterm injury of his career.

“Back to 100% now,” said Trocheck, who also missed seven games earlier this season with a suspected left foot injury. “It’s been a long ride coming back from the injury last year to coming into this year getting hurt again. I finally feel like I’m back to 100%. It’s definitely a good feeling to finally feel like I can play like myself again.”

Trocheck did return to the lineup last season but hobbled through the final 37 games weakened by his injury. He was able to score only 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) over that span, equating to 0.54 points per game.

Even healed, he acknowledged the aftereffects hindered his game last season.

“The strength, the soreness, definitely wasn’t able to play with the speed that I’m used to playing with,” Trocheck said. “Speed is 75% of my game, I’d say. I took a little bit of a hit over those few months. It was a little bit of an adjustment getting back to playing fast, playing quick.

“The strength and the range of motion. One of the things whenever you break your leg, the muscles and tendons around it get tight. You don’t have that same range of motion, you’re not as flexible. You can’t get to where you want to get that push-off. All of that together was something that I couldn’t get back to normal.”

The recovery isn’t just physical, either. Trocheck had to regain confidence in his ankle.

“Coming off the injury, you definitely don’t know what you’re capable of,” Trocheck said. “If your leg is 100% back to where you can start doing cuts, push off the way you want to without re-injuring it. It takes a little bit of time to get over that.”

This season, the former All-Star, who centers the Panthers’ second line, has 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 42 games, a slightly more robust pace of 0.66 points per game.

Trocheck still thinks there’s room for improvement.

“I’ve started to feel like I’ve gotten back to generating more chances like I’m used to doing,” said Trocheck, who primarily plays between forwards Noel Acciardi and Brett Connolly. “I feel like ever since I’ve been out there, I’ve made chances for either one of my linemates. I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing recently. Obviously, the points aren’t something that haven’t been there as much as I’m used to. But it’s more worrisome whenever you’re not getting the chances. Right now, I’m getting the chances.”

(Video courtesy NHL)

Said Panthers coach Joel Quenneville: “He’s been close to finishing. The line has been effective. I think (Acciari) on that line gives them a little bit of reliability defensively. I think they’re generating offense. He’s been getting some great looks. Sometimes they start going in for you. Keep up that thought process of doing the right things, you get rewarded.”

Production aside, Trocheck appears sated in how he is playing, even if the results aren’t showing up statistically.

“Sure. I want to produce, I want to help the team,” Trocheck said. “Whenever I’m producing, they usually fall together. But when I’m looking at the stat sheet, it’s not for points and goals and assists. It’s more I want to make sure I’m above 50% on faceoffs. … I want to have more than two or three hits a night, I want a block shot. I want to register those type of things to help the team win.

“But, obviously, there’s a little bit of frustrating in not producing points. It’s a little bit of a mental battle. I feel like I’m creating a few more chances recently. You can’t really worry about it when you’re creating chances. Eventually, it will fall.”

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