The Florida Panthers issued a statement today regarding the status of forward Vincent Trocheck, who required a stretcher to leave the ice surface after suffering a gruesome leg injury on Monday night. The forward and alternate captain will be out indefinitely following surgery to repair an ankle fracture. GM Dale Tallon expressed his belief that Trocheck will eventually be back.
Vinny is a tremendous competitor and leader for our club. It’s never easy to see a player and person like him suffer an injury like this, but we are confident that he will make a full recovery and be back on the ice with our team this season.
It is incredible news that Trocheck will make a return this season, given the optics of the injury. As he raced for a loose puck in the corner against the Ottawa Senators, his leg was caught underneath his body when tangling with Ryan Dzingel. The play was immediately blown dead while Trocheck was heard calling out in pain on the broadcast, and Senators players assisted trainers across the ice to help their fallen opponent.
The 25-year old center is a leader at both ends of the ice for the Panthers, and broke out last season with 31 goals and 75 points. He was off to another nice start this season with 14 points in his first 18 games, but will now likely miss a huge chunk of the year as he tries to come back. The Panthers have their eyes set on a playoff spot, but it will be even tougher to climb out of their early season hole without one of their star forwards. The team has recalled Denis Malgin to take Trocheck’s place on the roster, though he will certainly not fill his role entirely.
That’s great news. Yesterday people on various forums were calling for his leg to be amputated. “Out the rest of this year and probably next year.” They should all be fined for embellishment. Speedy recovery, Vinny.