Rangers captain Jacob Trouba has been the subject of trade speculation ever since their season ended in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final. It seems internal discussions around trading him have gained a fair amount of credibility, as Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports that the team has asked Trouba’s representation for the 15 teams on his no-trade list, which kicks in on July 1 after having a full no-move clause for the past four seasons.
Staple and The Athletic’s Peter Baugh wrote Tuesday that “there’s no indication as of yet that the Rangers are entertaining a Trouba move,” so his report today is the first credible sign that general manager Chris Drury is considering it. No specific teams have yet been linked to the Blueshirts in Trouba trade talks.
Moving out Trouba, who has two seasons remaining at an $8MM cap hit, would open up a significant amount of cap space for Drury to make a big splash in this summer’s free-agent market. New York has been linked to Jake Guentzel, the top left winger available, in recent days after previously pursuing him at this season’s trade deadline.
Coming off arguably his worst season as a Ranger, Trouba likely won’t have much trade value, especially if the Rangers aren’t retaining any salary. The 30-year-old had three goals, 19 assists and 22 points with a -4 rating in 69 games, missing a significant chunk of games near the end of the regular season with an ankle injury.
In the playoffs, he saw his ice time dip to 20:59 per game from 21:15 in the regular season and had a decent offensive showing with a goal and six assists in 16 appearances. His usual pairing with K’Andre Miller struggled to control play at even strength in the postseason, posting an xGF% of 41.5 in 92 minutes together, per MoneyPuck. However, he fared much better in third-pairing usage alongside pending UFA Erik Gustafsson.
He may be their captain, but $8MM is a large chunk of change for someone past his 30th birthday set to potentially begin next season back in a bottom-pairing role with youngster Braden Schneider challenging for his spot in the top four. He’s become expendable, especially considering Schneider needs a new deal as an RFA this summer. Adding depth scoring will also be a priority for Drury, as is freeing up future cap space for an Igor Shesterkin extension. The perennial Vezina candidate will be in line for a mega-deal next summer as he enters his final season under contract at a $5.67MM cap hit.
NYR fans wouldn’t complain if he was making 4mil but 8mil is way too much for a 3rd line defenseman who’d prefer to hit instead of defend
People are throwing dirt on this guy maybe a little too early.
Blues get kakko, trouba, 30th pick and the rangers 2nd round pick. Rangers get 16th pick and krug. Rangers save alittle money this year and next, but pay more in the long run and get a higher pick. Blues get long term savings, a bottom 6 forward thats a former top pick, a defenseman to replace krug, and move back but get an extra pick in the draft that they can use or package for other picks or players.
No thx. Krug is not good defensively and we have a krug clone in Zac jones who is paid league minimum. Plus you want Kaapo and all we get is to move up 15 picks? Lol
Trouba wanted NY from Wpg so his wife can continue her career in the hospital where she works,,,don’t see him wave his NMC
NMC becomes a modified No Trade Clause after July 1. Trouba can list 15 teams he can’t be traded to.
He picks the 15 teams with the most cap space to block and it’s much harder to trade him.
Explains everything.
He must get kickbacks for every player he puts in that hospital.
So Kreider, Panarin, Guentzel on the left side with a former #1 overall LW playing RW, then?
Prudent.
That’s what I was thinking. Too many LWs – how about someone on the RW?
For now, minus any trades, etc., they need to put Kakko on the top line and just give him the consistent minutes and say go. Second line is set. 3rd line can be interesting down the road if they bring the kids up for good – Chytil and Cuyle with Othmann and Perrault down the road (who should move up to first line if Karoo can’t make it). 4th line can be a beast with WC, MR, JV. Moving Touba to the third pairing wouldn’t be a bad idea – or moving him if possible. Schneider and Miller are a nice second pair and EG could pair up with with Jones if Trouba is dealt.
Laf looked great on the right side, if anything he looked better than he did at LW.
Othmann and Perreault are both natural RW, so is Brett Berard who had a tremendous season in Hartford.
There’s no way Perreault isn’t in New York after the college season ends.
Othman is a natural LW. LaF was really good on the right side but much has to do with the line he was on and minutes he got. Perrault should be a beast.
Kakko, Robertson, 30th pick for 11th pick from San Jose
San Jose wouldn’t trade the 11th pick as they are rebuilding.
Kaapo, Zac Jones, and one more prospect to Winnipeg for Rutger McGroraty and Chaz Lucius.
Trouba would be missed as an enforcer, and he is a great leader. The Rangers would make a mistake trading him.