The talented OHL star has done nothing but impress coaches and fellow players since his arrival in Florida. With rookie camp starting next week, all eyes will be on Vincent Trocheck as he tries to make a statement that he belongs in the NHL right now.
Here are the "locks" at the forward position to be in the lineup opening night:
Jonathan Huberdeau
Aleksander Barkov
Tomas Fleischmann
Sean Bergenheim
Tomas Kopecky
Scottie Upshall
Marcel Goc
Shawn Matthias
Drew Shore
*Kris Versteeg is not on this list because he will likely be out through October while recovering from injury.
That leaves three spots up for grabs. Here are the remaining players that will be fighting for a starting position:
Scott Gomez
Joey Crabb
Jesse Winchester
Steve Pinnizotto
Nick Bjugstad
Quinton Howden
Bobby Butler
Eric Selleck
While this is certainly not the who's who list of players, it is fair to say that Gomez, Bjugstad, and Howden would have the inside track on the open spots. The experience Gomez brings to the table is a plus. Howden and Bjugstad's size, in addition their pro experience last year helps their cause.
However, just two years ago Joey Crabb had 11 goals and 15 assists for the Maple Leafs and could provide some value on the 4th line. It will come down to the faith the coaches have in the youth to provide the numbers necessary to stay up with the big club. No doubt Bjugstad and Howden struggled for most of their time with the Panthers last season, so it will be interesting to monitor their progress.
Since the last three positions could be up for grabs, could a player like Trocheck steal some playing time? All answers point to yes. GM Dale Tallon has said age and experience will not factor in to who starts for this team this year.
Trocheck showed his surprising offensive abilities over the last few years, and if there is anything the Panthers desperately need it's all the scoring they can get. Trocheck might be a third line option that adds that needed punch.
By his own admission, Trocheck still is a bit raw and needs to get a little bigger, but he plays tough and is not afraid of getting dirty. That will bode well for him should the players "above" him not shine enough for the coaches as time goes on.
What do you think? Could Trocheck bring more to the table than those second tier players fighting for a spot?
As always, thanks for reading and your comments are appreciated.
Dan Spiegel
Credentialed Florida Panthers Media
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