On the opening day of training camp, Vincent Trocheck revealed some insights about the new system introduced by Rangers’ coach Mike Sullivan.
According to the newly appointed alternate captain, the approach to defensive play has shifted significantly.
“It’s a zone defense,” he noted. “There’s less need for skating in the D-zone. It involves a lot of handoffs, which I think allows us to conserve energy when attacking. However, it also consumes time and space. Opponents tend to press when we’re in our D-zone. It’s definitely not like a man-to-man system where you’re constantly chasing your assigned player, thereby wasting a lot of time.”
He added, “When you flip the play, you might not be in a position to attack right away. This system feels more about reading and reacting. You essentially own your area.”
While it’s reminiscent of the quadrant defense that former coach Peter Laviolette employed, Trocheck pointed out that Sullivan’s strategy limits space for opponents, allowing wingers to intercept critical passes from the defense.
“If something goes wrong,” he continued, “it turns into a read-and-react scenario. The center is the key player, making reads in the middle of the ice. If there’s an opportunity to seize the puck, we’ll go for it.”
On a different note, Artemi Panarin was absent due to a lower body injury during the camp’s third day.
Following Saturday’s practice, the Rangers trimmed their roster down to 48 players. Those assigned to Hartford’s training camp include Gavin Hain, Kyle Jackson, Zakary Karpa, Sullivan Mack, Chris Merisier-Ortiz, Cooper Moore, Hugo Ollas, and Callum Tung.
Additionally, Raul Boilard, Artem Goncer, and Evan Passmore have been sent back to their junior teams, while Tim Lovell and Corbin Vaughn were released from their tryouts.
