Florida Panthers Report Card: Vincent Trocheck

Offense Grade: C-

Vincent Trocheck had a very difficult season across the board. He got off to a slow start as he struggled to build chemistry with Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov. His power play role, which was so effective in 2017-18 was essentially given to Hoffman and Trocheck was left searching for new ways to make his impact. Then, he suffered a devastating leg and ankle injury which took him out for almost 30 games. Although the reasons for his offensive challenges weren’t his own fault, he just never really clicked in his shortened season. He scored just 10 goals in 55 games and finished with a total of 34 points. He had a couple of hot streaks, but he mostly struggled to develop any rhythm at all and could not be counted on for offense as he was pressing and searching for his looks. He also had his fair share of terrible luck, similar to that dismal season Reilly Smith suffered through in 2016-17. Look for Trocheck to bounce back next year with a healthy season, new coaching staff, and fresh start. This season was one to forget, but Trocheck is an elite talent and an incredibly hard worker. A rebound season should be on the horizon.

Defense Grade: B

When Trocheck’s offense wasn’t going, he was still generally reliable defensively. He didn’t play quite as aggressively as he did last season, but he is still every bit the hard working and gritty forward he’s always been on the defensive end. He throws the body better than just about anyone his size. He and Jayce Hawryluk were a terror on the forecheck together, and Trocheck was vital in taking penalty kill minutes and big face-offs off the plate of Sasha Barkov. Barkov credits his dominant second half of the season to the return of a healthy Trocheck because Vincent was able to shoulder a lot of the load that Barkov had been dealing with. If he can regain some of the speed and physicality that we have come to expect from him, Trocheck should be looking at an A+ defensive season next year. The B grade from this past season is solid, but Trocheck likely feels he can do much better and I wouldn’t doubt him.

overall grade: C

Trocheck gets a C overall because his numbers, averages, and play in general were down across the board. For the most part it was a lost season for Trocheck, but there wasn’t much of anything he could have done about it. The Panthers are a much better team when he is healthy and firing on all cylinders. He had his season derailed by injury, a premature return to the ice, and inconsistent linemates. None of those are factors he could control, but even so, the Panthers were far better with him in the lineup. Injuries are a part of hockey, and I fully expect that Trocheck will return next season fully healthy and hungry. He has something to prove and if you kept up with his blog this season, you know he is starving for playoff action. Watch for him to be an elite forward next season and put this past season, and his C grade, far away in the rear view mirror.