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New York Rangers star center Vincent Trocheck had a terrible health scare at the start of the season.
Trocheck, 32, revealed to reporters that his 14-game absence at the start of the season was due to a bacterial infection in his lungs.
“I had some viral bacteria get into my lung and I wasn’t sure what it was. I think this happened before the first game of the year. I thought I was just having back spasms, and then I played the first game,” Trocheck said.
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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck skates against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on April 5, 2026. (Danny Wild/Image Images)
“It got a little bit worse. I played in Buffalo. They did a cross check right in that area, and whatever fluid was there, it’s like bubbles, and I guess the bubble burst and spread. So, it got a lot worse. I had a lot of fluid around my lung, so I had to have surgery to remove it.”
The two-time All-Star said tubes were inserted into his chest and he was in the hospital for about a week. He called it strange and wouldn’t call it an injury.
“It was very scary. I thought I was dying,” Trocheck said.
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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck skates against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on April 5, 2026. (Danny Wild/Image Images)
Trocheck, who starred on penalties for Team USA during the Olympics and its gold medal run, said no one knows how the liquid came about.
The Pittsburgh native played in 67 games this season, scoring 16 goals and adding 37 assists for 53 points. Trocheck found himself in the middle of trade talks near the deadline, but ultimately didn’t budge.
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New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck skates against the Washington Capitals during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on April 5, 2026. (Danny Wild/Image Images)
While Trocheck was not traded at the deadline, he still could be traded this offseason as the Rangers look to restructure after finishing last in the Eastern Conference.
Trocheck just completed his fourth season with the Rangers and has three more seasons remaining on a seven-year, $39.375 million contract.
