[5] While in Detroit, Trocheck learned about the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and began attending Plymouth Whalers games.

[6] Upon signing with the Spirit in 2009, Trocheck reconnected with his former Pee-Wee teammate Brandon Saad in hopes of convincing him to commit to the team.

[14] By January, Trocheck was ranked 42nd amongst all draft-eligible OHL forwards and defensemen by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.

[16] On March 17, 2011, Trocheck recorded his 25th goal of the season in a 5-0 win over the Spitfires to help lead the Spirit to their first Western Conference division title in franchise history.

[24] Although Trocheck did not finish the 2011–12 season on the Spirit's top line of Saad, Shalla, and Michael Fine, he still led the team with 29 goals and 56 assists.

[29] Through his 28 games with the Whalers, Trocheck recorded 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points en route to the 2013 OHL playoffs.

He became the first Whalers player in a decade to score 50 goals and overtook Sting forward Charles Sarault for the league lead in points.

However, he was re-assigned to the Panthers American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, on September 25.

[40] He led the team in scoring through the remainder of the year while playing alongside wingers Greg Rallo and Bobby Butler.

[42][43] He made his NHL debut the following night on March 7, against the Buffalo Sabres, where he registered three shots on goal in 17:35 minutes of ice-time.

Following an early season injury to forward Aleksander Barkov, Trocheck quickly began earning more on-ice responsibility and was moved to the team's top line.

[55] However, shortly after tying Jaromír Jágr for the team lead in goals with 25, Trocheck injured his foot blocking a shot during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[56] He subsequently missed the remainder of the regular season but returned to the Panthers lineup for their 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs run.

[58] Although he earned an assist in Game 6, the Panthers fell to the Islanders in double overtime and were subsequently eliminated from playoff contention.

[59] As a restricted free agent heading into the 2016 offseason, Trocheck signed a six-year, $28.5 million contract with the Panthers on July 3, 2016.

[61] During the Panthers 2016 training camp, Trocheck spoke highly about his fitness level and said that playing in the World Cup helped him remain in shape.

[1] Part of the reason for this increase in production was because injuries to key forwards Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau resulted in Trocheck being given more on-ice responsibilities and ice time.

[63] During the 2017–18 season, Trocheck experienced another breakout campaign and set new career highs in goals, assists, and points.

[65] Following the departure of Trocheck's usual linemates Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen in the offseason, head coach Bob Boughner tried numerous different players as his second-line wingers.

During a game against the Ottawa Senators on November 19, Trocheck twisted his right leg while chasing the puck in the first period and was subsequently stretchered off the ice.

After going pointless to start December, Trocheck was moved to the winger position alongside Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau in an effort to spark his offensive abilities.

[75] As his production continued to decline, Trocheck was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark, Eetu Luostarinen and Chase Priskie on February 24, 2020.

[80] The Hurricanes swept the Rangers in three games to become the first team to make it past the Qualifiers and into the Eastern Conference first round.

[85] During the 2023–24 season, Trocheck experienced another breakout campaign and set new career highs in goals, assists, and points.

[92] Throughout the first two series, Trocheck earned praise from hockey pundits for his playmaking abilities[93][94] and was referred to as the "Rangers' do-it-all hero" by sportswriter Greg Wyshynski.

[1] On September 2, 2016, it was announced that Trocheck would compete for Team North America in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey as a replacement for Sean Monahan.