The New York Rangers closed out the pre-Olympics break part of their schedule as much of their home contests have gone, with a loss. New York is 22-29-6, last in Metro, last in the Eastern Conference, and with the third-worst point total in the league. Finding positives becomes more and more challenging each day.
JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck are playing for Team USA, while Mika Zibanejad will have a key role for Sweden. That’s the extent of the players who are suiting up for their teams in the Olympics. If there is a “benefit” to the break, Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin both have a good chance to return from their respective injuries when the NHL resumes action.
Miller and Trocheck head into the break with different focuses. Miller has been brutal this season, both on and off the ice. Elliotte Friedman in his recent 32 Thoughts column, highlights the public face of the franchise captaincy aspect where Miller is failing. That would be half bad if his play was better. But when you combine the two, it’s failure on top of failure. The trade with Vancouver has not worked out well for either team to date, with the primary beneficiary being Pittsburgh, which acquired the first-round pick New York traded in the deal. Not how it was drawn up on paper.
Mike Sullivan and J.T. Miller are on a business trip to Italy. Gold is the goal and nothing can get in the way. But, at some point, they need to sit down and discuss some Rangers. I understand that losing sucks and Miller doesn’t want to pour gasoline on the fire with his post-game commentary. But there has to be a better way than how he’s answering questions right now. It’s only inflaming tensions. Sullivan clearly is just as frustrated, feeling his message is not getting through. He’s the coach and Miller is the captain. They have to work with each other to make it better. Or the Rangers are going to have to change something there, too.
Friedman also mentions Trocheck in his column. Vinny T has been prominently mentioned so often as likely being one of the next to go that even he poked fun at the rumors, almost posing with the Team USA Wild players in their photos on Sunday. Trocheck to Minnesota or Detroit makes a ton of sense for either team, given their needs.
Vince Mercogliano and Peter Baugh took a look at the best possible destinations for Trocheck. While I would like to have Trocheck around, moving him provides the highest value for the Rangers, who desperately need to replenish the system. Braden Schneider would bring back an asset, Artemi Panarin netted Liam Greentree, and at least a third-rounder, but Trocheck has the potential to return the most in a deal.
