Despite numerous trade rumors over the offseason, Jacob Trouba is content to stay with the New York Rangers and has no negative feelings toward the team or general manager Chris Drury.
Reports suggested that Drury sought early access to Trouba’s 15-team no-trade list before July 1, aiming to trade the Rangers captain and free up salary cap space before NHL free agency. Trouba submitted his list just before the deadline, likely thwarting any potential trade involving his $8 million salary cap hit for the next two seasons.
As August arrives, the Rangers’ roster looks finalized following defenseman Ryan Lindgren’s one-year, $4.5 million contract agreement ahead of salary arbitration, and Trouba is gearing up for his sixth training camp with the team in September.
“It was fine,” Trouba told The Athletic in a Q&A. “It’s part of the business. I knew that part of my contract turned this year (to a no-trade list), and I submitted a list. That’s what I did. All the other noise was pretty much noise. I’m happy to be here. I’m excited to go into the season. Great opportunity ahead of us.”
In the first five years of his seven-year contract, Trouba had a no-movement clause, which then shifted to a no-trade list of 15 teams. Reportedly, he included his hometown Detroit Red Wings to prevent a potential trade to them.
He emphasized there are no hard feelings between him and the Rangers.
“Yeah, they were great the whole time,” Trouba said. “Even going back years prior, me and ‘Dru’ have always had a good relationship. We can speak to each other when we want to. He has a lot of trust in me, I think, and I’m grateful for that. We’re excited to get started this year.”
Vince Mercogliano of USA Today reported on July 1 that Trouba was “not pleased with the way this has gone down,” as he didn’t want to be traded and disrupt his wife Kelly Tyson-Trouba’s medical residency in New York.
Now that the Troubas are staying in New York, it seems all issues have been resolved.
Jacob Trouba ‘excited’ for upcoming season with Rangers
Trouba experienced a mix of highs and lows last season and faced significant criticism for his performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially during the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. He ended the postseason with one goal and six assists but was a minus-three in the last four games of the series, where the Rangers lost the final three matches (each by a single goal) after initially leading 2-1 in the series.
Following the Rangers’ elimination after a 2-1 loss in Game 6, it was disclosed during exit interviews that Trouba had suffered a broken ankle late in the regular season. This injury caused him to miss 13 games in March and left him scoreless in his final nine regular-season appearances. He was demoted to the third defense pair with Erik Gustafsson late in the season but returned to the second pair with K’Andre Miller for the playoffs. He finished the postseason on the third pair and is anticipated to be behind Braden Schneider again when the 2024-25 season begins.
Despite these challenges, Trouba expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season.
He reflected on the previous year’s disappointment, noting that losing in the first round is different from falling short when close to reaching the Final. He emphasized the need to move forward and use the experience as motivation for the next season.
Trouba also lauded the offseason additions of forwards Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick, showing his commitment as a team leader ready for another Stanley Cup pursuit in 2024-25.
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