Vincent Trocheck faces a pivotal bounce-back season as the Rangers lean on him for two-way grind, faceoffs, and special-teams leadership after a down year. A best-case path envisions him driving a feistier, more accountable locker room, potentially as captain, while Lafrenière and Panarin rejoin him to revive the top line and a revamped power play and penalty kill. Durability and workload are weighed against wear and tear, with Edstrom and Mancini advancing as depth pieces who could accelerate a sharper, more dangerous Rangers core.

Key themes: leadership voids, a more aggressive in-game persona for Trocheck, and a team-wide commitment to bite and pace under a new coach. If Trocheck bounces back, the Rangers’ top three (Lafrenière-Panarin-Trocheck) could reclaim elite status and lead the charge toward a return to the playoffs, with improved special-teams play and a more competitive overall identity.