On the first day of New York Rangers training camp, forward Vincent Trocheck gave fans a sneak peek into the fresh defensive system that new head coach Mike Sullivan is rolling out. As the team’s alternate captain, Trocheck highlighted how the approach shakes things up in the defensive zone.
“It’s a zone defense,” Trocheck explained. Players skate less back there, relying instead on handoffs to cover ground. This setup saves energy for offensive plays while still pressuring the opponent’s attack by stealing time and space. Unlike the old man-on-man style, where defenders chase one player all shift and burn out, this system lets you read the play and react from your assigned area.
Trocheck noted that even if there’s a turnover, you keep your legs fresh to transition to offense. It’s efficient and smart, he added.
The Rangers’ zone defense draws from the quadrant style former coach Peter Laviolette used, but Sullivan’s version squeezes the ice even more. Wingers stay active to block those key passes from the blue line. In breakdowns, the center takes charge in the middle, scanning for chances to pounce on loose pucks.
Meanwhile, star winger Artemi Panarin sat out the third day of camp on Saturday with a lower-body injury. The team hopes he bounces back soon as they gear up for the season.
After Saturday’s practice, the Rangers trimmed their roster to 48 players. They sent prospects Gavin Hain, Kyle Jackson, Zakary Karpa, Sullivan Mack, Chris Merisier-Ortiz, Cooper Moore, Hugo Ollas, and Callum Tung to the Hartford training camp.
Juniors Raoul Boilard, Artem Gonchar, and Evan Passmore headed back to their respective teams. Tryout invites for Tim Lovell and Corbin Vaughan also ended.
With these moves, the Rangers continue building momentum under Sullivan’s guidance, focusing on a balanced defense that powers their offense in the upcoming NHL season.
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