Trocheck reunites with Cuylle as Mammoth return to the Garden
The Utah forward greeted his former teammate and housemate before his first game back at Madison Square Garden.
What's newVincent Trocheck reunited with former teammate and housemate Will Cuylle before his first game back at Madison Square Garden.
Vincent Trocheck's first return to Madison Square Garden with the Utah Mammoth began with a reunion with Will Cuylle before Sunday's game against the New York Rangers. The former teammates were also housemates: Trocheck hosted Cuylle during the 2024 season, NHL.com reported.
Trocheck posed for photos with Rangers and Mammoth fans as he arrived at the arena. Cuylle had described the welcome from Trocheck and his family in 2024, saying: "He's an easy guy to get along with, great family."
Trocheck had anticipated an emotional night. "It'll be emotional," he said ahead of the return.
The forward and the Utah Mammoth face the New York Rangers at 6 p.m. ET (Utah16, MSG, TVAS). It will be his first time on Garden ice since New York traded him to Utah on July 1 for defenceman Sean Durzi, forward Cole Beaudoin and a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Trocheck, 33, spent the past four seasons with the Rangers. He had 253 points (89 goals, 164 assists) in 313 games there, including 53 points in 67 games last season. He helped New York reach the 2023-24 Eastern Conference Final, where the Rangers lost in six games to the Florida Panthers.
"It's always tough whenever you're in a place for a few years and you get used to the area," Trocheck said. "You fall in love with a place, which we obviously did. It's tough to move on but that is part of the business. It happens. I've done it a couple of times in my career now."
He would rather have the reunion done early. "I don't want to be thinking about it," he said. "I haven't really thought about it too much, but it'll be interesting."
His Utah debut went well. Trocheck had an assist in a 6-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
