New York Rangers star center Vincent Trocheck has publicly disclosed the harrowing health scare that sidelined him for 14 games at the start of the season. In a statement to reporters, Trocheck revealed that the prolonged absence was not due to a straightforward injury, but rather a severe bacterial infection that took hold in his lungs.
Trocheck, who is 32 years old, described the onset of the ailment, noting that initial symptoms had been vague. He mentioned playing in the first game believing he was simply struggling with back spasms, but his condition rapidly deteriorated. He elaborated on the worsening of his symptoms during a game against the Buffalo Sabres. Specifically, he noted that a cross-check in the area was followed by an alarming spread of fluid, describing it as appearing in ‘bubbles,’ which then exacerbated the issue. This accumulation of fluid around his lungs necessitated immediate surgical attention.
The severity of the infection required Trocheck to undergo surgery, during which he had chest tubes inserted. The procedure and subsequent care kept him hospitalized for nearly a week. Reflecting on the entire ordeal, Trocheck did not classify it as an injury but emphasized the sheer terror of the experience, recounting, ‘It was very scary. I thought I was dying.’ The nature of the fluid’s emergence remains unknown, having kept both the player and medical professionals puzzled.
Despite this significant medical setback, Trocheck was highly integral to the Rangers’ success, recalling his star performance with Team USA during the Olympics, where he anchored the penalty kill and played a vital role in securing a gold medal. Throughout the season, the Pittsburgh native contributed 53 points—16 goals and 37 assists—in 67 games played. While he remained with the Rangers and was not moved during the trade deadline frenzy, his future with the team remains a topic of considerable interest. Trocheck has completed his fourth season with the club and is slated for three more seasons under a valuable seven-year, $39.375 million contract, indicating the team and player still view him as a core piece of their plans.