From the club:
Florida Panthers Executive Vice-President and General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the club has recalled F Rocco Grimaldi and F Vincent Trocheck. In addition, the club announced that F Dave Bolland has been placed on injured reserved retroactive to October 17, 2014 and F Brandon Pirri has been placed on injured reserved retroactive to October 30, 2014.
Grimaldi, 21, has appeared in eight games with San Antonio (AHL) this season, recording three goals with one assist and four penalty minutes, after signing his entry level contract with Florida this past summer. Prior to playing in San Antonio, Grimaldi spent three years (2011-2014) at the University of North Dakota (NCHC) recording 31 goals and 46 assists. Grimaldi was drafted by Florida in the second round (33rd overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Trocheck, 21, made his NHL debut last season with the Panthers on Mar. 7 against Buffalo. He appeared in 20 games with the Cats last year, scoring five goals and three assists. He has played in eight games with San Antonio (AHL) this season and ranks third on the Rampage with six points (2-4-6) in eight games played. He was drafted by Florida in the third round (64th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Expanding on that, Grimaldi could possibly make his NHL debut Saturday in Sunrise vs Philadelphia, though if only a single forward is needed Trocheck is the – my bet – likely favorite early on considering those previous 20 logged with Florida a season ago. Again, simply speculation on my part.
Somewhat trivial this early but worth noting that the duo have combined for 1 power play goal (Grimaldi) of the five scored between them with San Antonio, so don’t expect a special teams offensive explosion just yet.
Trocheck was a very nice addition in the second half of the 2013-14 campaign, regularly drawing attention to his speed and stickhandling while playing alongside a chaotic, bumbling roster (being generous on the roster part).
As for Rocco, maybe the timing is perfect for his debut in the Bigs; he has always risen when the occasion required throughout his collegiate career, despite little respect for his skills relative to his size. He knows the deal, his (new-ish) club is struggling mightily to score, just lost Brandon Pirri, no one goes to the games, blah blah blah. A Saturday league debut at home against the Flyers could be magical.
Or maybe not, but I’m personally stoked to see him on NHL ice, as are many around these here parts who have followed him since the 2011 Draft. Where will he play up front? Good question…
Be curious if Rocco plays center tomorrow in his #NHL debut. He’s played RW since the start of training camp and pretty much all last year.
— Dan Weiss (@DanWeissPBP) October 31, 2014
At the other end…
Dave Bolland (groin) put on IR retroactive to Oct. 23 so he can return to #FlaPanthers on Tuesday; Pirri (concussion) out at least a week.
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) October 31, 2014
GR later updated the Bolland IR date (turned out to be October 17), so he’ll likely only miss one further game since the Cats are in Boston Tuesday. As for Pirri? Keep those fingers crossed. Until his return we have this bit of gold from Arley Londono…
The Rampage have recalled F Wade Megan from ECHL Cincinnati.