Head coach Peter Laviolette kept two wingers, Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, when he reconfigured his top-nine line for Sunday's game against the Islanders. center/wingers Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko; And center/wingers Vincent Trocheck and Riley Smith… eight and nine years ago, when they were linemates at Florida.
“I think knowing him on the ice makes the biggest difference than anything. Just having that comfort and being able to talk to him no matter what happens on the ice,” Trocheck said as the Rangers went 6-1. he told the Post before his crushing defeat. Sabers. “It’s a long journey.
“It’s been a while since we played together on the ice, but I don’t know if I can say that playing together in 2016 and 2017 has put everything back together. It’s going to take time, but like I said, , getting to know him as a person off the ice and being able to talk about things definitely helps.”
Remember the excitement a few years ago when Panarin and Patrick Kane reunited after forming the dynamic duo in Chicago? Well, A) it just didn't work. B) There is no hype associated with this move. So don't worry.
Smith has performed as advertised since coming to New York from Pittsburgh in a July trade, scoring eight points (2-6). He was hard-working, responsible, and displayed considerable skill, skating for 10 games alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider before being shifted to the right side alongside Trocheck and left winger Will Quill.
Perhaps it's not Jussi Jokinen-Trochek-Smith of the Panthers in 2015-16, who had 26 points and 10 conceded for an expected goals against percentage of 58.84, but perhaps he's worth even more if this unit remains intact. there will be. Coach Gerard Gallant's Panthers won the division with a front line of Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr.
Paddy Tatts was lost to the Islanders in the first round, Gallant was fired 22 games into the following season, the team split and the club missed the playoffs.
“When we played together at Florida, there was almost instant chemistry,” Smith told the Post on Sunday, when he tackled Trocheck from the slot after stripping Samuel Bolduc of the puck on the forecheck. “Not only were we both great on the ice, we were both progressing in our careers at the same time, we were similar ages, and we had similar life experiences away from the rink.
“So when we started playing together at Florida, it was definitely fun and I felt like we were gaining experience and success at the same time. It was pretty special. And our first year at Florida, we had great We had a team and we made it to the playoffs when nothing was really expected of us. So, we've learned from each other's experiences, and little by little we feel a little bit more secure in all aspects, both on and off the ice. I think it was.”
Smith, who will turn 34 a few weeks before the playoffs, was selected 69th overall by Dallas in the 2009 draft. He previously played for the Stars, Bruins, Panthers, Golden Knights and Penguins. As such, he has considerable experience adapting to new situations and new teammates and linemates.
And he agrees with Trocheck that their relationship on the ice was the most important factor in coming together nearly a decade later. They have been Laviolette's penalty-kill tandem since the beginning of the season and have not played on the PPGA with 19 minutes, 28 seconds of shorthanded duty.
“We’ve always been in fantasy football leagues,” Smith said. “I don’t think either of us ever won the league, but things like this are a good way to stay in touch with the players.
“Things like that are very important because when you move from organization to organization, it's very difficult to stay in touch with your teammates. It's important.”
Smith arrived in New York with an impressive resume, ranking 9th in points (521), 11th in assists (306), 13th in goals (215) and 14th in games played (851) in his draft class. . But whether his career is fulfilling or not, the boy from Mimiko believes he has something to prove.
“I think no matter who you are, you have to prove yourself every day. I don't think there's a standard where you can say, 'Oh, this person has done this much so they can coast,'” Smith said rhetorically. I asked purposefully. “I don’t think it’s the pedigree of a winning team.
“I'm here, I want to help every day, I want to improve my game every day, and that's been my mindset from the beginning. Who would expect anything else from anyone else in this locker room?” I don’t think there are any.”
