Trocheck 'engine of team' for young Panthers

Listen to this quote about Florida Panthers center Vincent Trocheck:
"He's the engine for our team," coach Bob Boughner said. "When he's going, guys follow. He's a leader. He's got a big heart, lot of character. He plays bigger than he is. When he's on, it's fun to watch."

That's high praise, considering the Panthers have defenseman Aaron Ekblad, center Aleksander Barkov and left wing Jonathan Huberdeau, among others. Ekblad was the No. 1 pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. Barkov went No. 2 in 2013, Huberdeau No. 3 in 2011.
But Trocheck embodies the identity Boughner wants and the development Panthers need.
Trocheck, 24, went in the third round (No. 64) in 2011 and is 5-feet-10, 182 pounds. But he skates and competes. He leads the Panthers in goals (17) and is tied with Barkov for second in points (40), behind Huberdeau (43). He's on pace for 33 goals, 45 assists and 78 points, which would shatter his career highs of 25, 31 and 54, respectively.
Perhaps the most impressive part: He doesn't play much at even strength with Barkov or Huberdeau, who usually play together. He's tied with forward Nick Bjugstad for second on the Panthers in even-strength goals (nine). He's third in even-strength points (27), behind Huberdeau (32) and Barkov (29).
"Obviously we have some good players around him, but he's not playing with the Huberdeaus and that of the world," Boughner said. "He makes a lot happen himself. It's a credit to [Trocheck]."

The Panthers have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs once the past five seasons (2015-16). They're on their fifth coach in five seasons. When 2017-18 began, they were adjusting once again. They started 4-8-2.
But they went 8-8-3 over their next 19 games, and are 6-2-1 in their past nine entering their game against the Calgary Flames at BB&T Center on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-F, SNF, NHL.TV).
Although they lost to the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 5, they trailed 2-0, tied it 2-2 and played better than the score indicated. They defeated the St. Louis Blues 7-4 at Scottrade Center on Tuesday, after falling behind 2-0 again. Trocheck had three points (two goals, one assist). He has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in his past 17 games.
"Earlier in the year, a little bit too much panic, not enough confidence," Trocheck said. "We have a great team in here. I feel like we have a lot of great young players that make plays and put the puck in the back of the net, that know what they're doing out there. It's just a matter of kind of getting that confidence into our game."
Trocheck said he thought back to 2015-16, his first full season in Florida. He looked up to defenseman Erik Gudbranson, his teammate then. Even though Gudbranson was less than two years older, he was in his fifth full season in Florida. He might as well have been a wise, old vet.
Well, now Trocheck is in his third full season in Florida and has played 270 NHL games. Ekblad, 21, is in his fourth and has played 269. Barkov, 22, is in his fifth and has played 293. Huberdeau, 24, is in his sixth and has played 345. Bjugstad, 25, the No. 19 pick in 2010, is in his fifth and has played 322.
"We have, I think, enough experience that the age doesn't really make much of a difference now," Trocheck said. "We know what it takes to make it to the playoffs. We've been there. We can kind of have that experience in the back of our heads. …
"It's that time. … I think that's kind of sunk in for me now. I may not be older than a lot of guys on the team, but I have played a lot of games and I have kind of seen what it takes. I've had a few different coaches. I've had different points of view that I've been able to kind of take from each of them."

Yes, it's that time. It has to be for the Panthers' time to come.
"You look at who leads us on the ice every night, it's the young guys," said forward Derek MacKenzie, the 36-year-old captain. "It's the Barkovs, the Ekblads, the Trochecks. Those are guys that stand up in the room and kind of instill confidence throughout the group that they're going to be going and that we can win. The rest will come.
"I think it's great that these guys have had a chance to kind of enjoy things and develop. One of those guys is going to be the captain here for a long time."