Rangers' Trocheck out week-to-week with upper-body injury

"PITTSBURGH - As Mike Sullivan returned to Pittsburgh for the first time since he and the Penguins organization parted ways last April, the new Rangers coach had a more immediate problem than controlling whatever emotions he was dealing with in coming back to PPG Paints Arena. He was coming back to Pittsburgh to face a team that had shut the Rangers out in their season opener Tuesday at the Garden. And he was doing it without his first-line center, Vincent Trocheck, whom the team announced Saturday will be out for an extended period with an upper-body injury."

""It sucks,'' Rangers captain J.T. Miller said at Saturday's morning skate of losing Trocheck. "He's such a big part of the team. He's a leader for the team, plays in all situations, but just his presence, being around, is... I mean, it's only been half a day and it's already it's a crappy feeling. I know what he means to this group, and especially, not just his play, but his presence in the room.''"

"With Trocheck out, Juuso Parssinen, who had been a healthy scratch the first two games, entered the lineup, and Sullivan had to move some pieces around. Mika Zibanejad, who has been playing right wing on Miller's line, with Will Cuylle, shifted back to his natural center position and took Trocheck's regular spot between wingers Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Conor Sheary, who had been playing on the third line, moved up to take Zibanejad's spot on Miller's line, and Parssinen, normally a cen"

Mike Sullivan returned to Pittsburgh for the first time since parting ways with the Penguins last April while preparing the Rangers to face Pittsburgh. Vincent Trocheck left the Buffalo game in the second period and was placed on a week-to-week timeline with an upper-body injury. Captain J.T. Miller emphasized Trocheck's importance as a leader and his emotional presence in the room. Sullivan noted Trocheck's value in faceoffs, special teams and top-six minutes, calling him difficult to replace. The Rangers inserted Juuso Parssinen and moved Mika Zibanejad back to center, prompting additional lineup shifts.

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