The New York Rangers are getting their stars back from the 4 Nations Face Off. But not without incident. A player going down with injury is always a concern during any break in the season, and the Face-Off has been no different. While some teams have escaped unscathed, the Rangers? Not quite as fortunate, with Vincent Trocheck not at full strength.

Vincent Trocheck, who was fresh back in town representing Team USA, was reported to have broken a finger playing in the tournament. But despite the injury, he is still slated to play in the Rangers’ next game against the Buffalo Sabers. But is it a smart move? The Rangers are desperate to get to the playoffs, and they need every player at peak capacity.

But risking a key player with a possible injury that could impact his grasp, passing, and faceoff play could ultimately catch up with them eventually. Vincent Trocheck’s injury was not exactly minor; in the game against Sweden, he was briefly sent away. All the same, he was back on the ice in the second period and also skated in the loss to Canada, though his overall impact in the tournament was minimal.

Reports from The Athletic confirm the broken finger, and The New York Post’s Mollie Walker said Trocheck is going to play but is clearly not 100%. But head coach Peter Laviolette painted a more optimistic picture: “Vince hasn’t missed any games, so we have nothing to report.”

That may be so, but it doesn’t mean his game will be completely unaffected by the injured finger. With a dense schedule, playing with a fracture may not seem so wise if the risk doesn’t pay off in the end. And surely Trocheck will face discomfort while stickhandling, shooting, and at the faceoff circle. The Rangers need Vincent Trocheck, but is this a risk that could ultimately backfire?

The Rangers face their biggest test with injuries

Vincent Trocheck isn’t the only health concern the Rangers are dealing with at the moment. Igor Shesterkin (upper body) is on the mend and working his way back, and Mika Zibanejad (illness) is also facing a spell on the sidelines. But the Blueshirts are without Adam Edstrom (lower body), who’s only projected to return in April. The margin for error is paper-thin with the Rangers just on the cusp of a wildcard spot.

Furthermore, Trocheck’s return might sound encouraging, but his time in the 4 Nations Face-Off tells a different story. The Rangers forward skated a considerable amount of ice time, above his NHL average, but could not translate effort into productivity, finishing the tournament with no points and a -1 rating. His performance in the final—losing all 4 face-offs—just adds to the skepticism about how well he can perform while injured.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, and Chris Kreider also saw significant ice time in the 4 Nations Face-Off, so fatigue is a consideration while managing their minutes. On paper, they’ve avoided a worst-case injury situation, but the question is, are they going to be able to stay healthy in order to make a playoff push?

The 4 Nations Face-Off was a genuine test of international hockey supremacy, yet for the Rangers, the real fight is just getting underway. Vincent Trocheck has returned, yet the residual impact of his injury might still be felt as New York grapples with keeping its season alive. Will the risk the Rangers are about to take in playing Trocheck pan out, or catch them later down the line? With Shesterkin recovering, Zibanejad healing, and the trade deadline looming, this next stretch could decide their playoff fate.