Vincent Trocheck returns to Rangers practice in encouraging injury sign

After a road trip that featured a three-game winning streak, the Rangers received some promising news at their first practice back in Tarrytown.

Vincent Trocheck, on long-term injured reserve after sustaining an upper-body injury during their second game of the season, returned to practice in a red noncontact jersey Monday. He skated on his own at the facility while the Blueshirts were on the road and is eligible to return at any point — Trocheck has missed both the 10 games and the 24 days required for being on LTIR — for the Rangers, but head coach Mike Sullivan said he didn’t know how close Trocheck is.

“Just his presence being around the group means the world,” Sullivan said after practice, “just with his leadership, his energy, the fact that he joined the group today suggests that he’s getting closer. It’s great that he’s out there with the group, but I think it helps the whole team overall.”

Trocheck remained on the other end of the ice as the Rangers worked on their power play and penalty kill during practice. Trocheck, who collected an assist against Buffalo before exiting, would instantly provide a jolt once he returns. He has recorded 25 and 26 goals the past two seasons, and in 2023-24 he finished with a career-best 77 points as a dependable two-way forward for the Blueshirts.

His absence also forced the Rangers to shuffle their top six early in the season. What started as Trocheck skating alongside Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière — and J.T. Miller centering Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad — turned into Panarin-Zibanejad-Miller and Cuylle-Noah Laba-Lafrenière during the Blueshirts win Saturday.

“Obviously, a big part of our team,” said Zibanejad, who called getting Trocheck back an “energy boost” for the Rangers. “Can’t wait to have him back. … It was awesome to see him again.”

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When asked why the Rangers opted to call up Jaroslav Chmelar — who has yet to make his NHL debut — Sunday instead of someone such as Brett Berard (three assists in nine games) or Gabe Perreault (five goals and 10 points through nine games), Sullivan said that Chmelar has been AHL Hartford’s “best forward.” The fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft has collected two goals and five points through the Wolf Pack’s opening nine games.

“I think it’s as simple as that,” Sullivan said of the 6-foot-4 forward, who skated with the Blueshirts on Monday. “He’s played extremely well for them, and he’s deserving of getting the call-up — and that’s why he’s here.”

“I think it’s a great message for everybody. Performance matters. It matters in practice. It matters in the games, whether you’re in New York or you’re in Hartford.”

Sullivan also said he talked with Brennan Othmann — sent to Hartford in a corresponding move after logging one game with the Rangers on their recent road trip — about attention to detail and the subtleties of his game, while acknowledging that it’s better for Othmann’s development to log consistent AHL minutes as opposed to getting scratched with the Rangers.

“A little bit of predictability, reliability with respect to his game away from the puck,” Sullivan said of Othmann, “and that being an important element of him earning his way on the roster as a regular. [Othmann] has NHL skill, without a doubt.”

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Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen, who skated 12:34 against Seattle on Saturday, didn’t practice due to a lower-body injury and is day to day. … The Rangers recalled defenseman Connor Mackey from Hartford and are placing Matt Rempe, who’s expected to be out “longer term” with an upper-body injury, on injured reserve, according to The Post’s Mollie Walker.

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K’Andre Miller, who was traded to the Hurricanes in July, will likely have to wait to make his Garden return. Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters he doesn’t think Miller — on IR with a lower-body injury but eligible to return — will travel to New York City with the team, according to the North State Journal.