According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the New York Rangers are engaged on a commerce that may ship Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Geese. Staple’s report comes shortly after TSN’s Pierre LeBrun indicated that Anaheim had shortly turn into the front-runner in buying Trouba’s providers. ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan shares that Anaheim will ship depth defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a draft decide to the Rangers, finishing the commerce.
This brings an finish to a tumultuous saga for Trouba in New York. The oft-mentioned commerce candidate had been within the rumor mill for a 12 months as he was reportedly practically dealt to the Detroit Crimson Wings this previous offseason earlier than utilizing his modified no-trade clause to nix the deal. It wouldn’t be the final time, both, as Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Trouba additionally used his commerce safety earlier Friday to ban a transfer to the Columbus Blue Jackets group.
The previous ninth general choice of the 2012 NHL Draft will now be part of the third group of his 12-year profession, albeit in a unique surroundings. Trouba is simply a 12 months faraway from captaining the Rangers to President’s Trophy honors through the 2023-24 NHL season however will now be part of a staff that hasn’t certified for the playoffs for the reason that 2017-18 season and is sitting twenty ninth in league standings. In the long run, it was his alternative, as Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff reported Trouba waived his no-trade clause to facilitate a take care of the Geese.
He’s actually fallen off in current seasons which certainly influenced New York’s need to maneuver on. He’ll end his Rangers’ tenure with 31 objectives and 136 factors in 364 common season video games with a +16 ranking. Most of Trouba’s lack of success in current seasons could be seen from his possession metrics. He averaged an approximated 47.0% CorsiFor% by way of his first 4 years in New York however has fallen to 42.6% and 40.0% within the final two years, respectively.
Nonetheless, Trouba offers worth through his physicality from the blue line. For higher or for worse, Trouba’s huge hits have turn into well-known all through the league, and that type of toughness can be obtained effectively in Greg Cronin’s system in Anaheim.
The Geese already boast one of many league’s most rugged defensemen in captain Radko Gudas and can now add Trouba to the equation. The Rochester, Michigan native has totaled greater than 100 hits during the last six years and eclipsed the 200 mark twice from 2021-23.
New York will obtain a gentle return for his or her now-former captain in Vaakanainen and Anaheim’s fourth-round decide in 2025 (as per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun). Vaakanainen, who’s at present on injured reserve, is a former first-round decide of the Boston Bruins from the 2017 NHL Draft and is a 12 months faraway from enjoying in a career-high 68 video games for the Geese. He received’t present a lot on the offensive facet of the puck given his profession 25 factors in 141 video games, however his $1.1M expiring contract will give the Rangers elevated monetary flexibility shifting ahead.
That’s largely what this deal was about from the Rangers’ perspective. They’ve now cleared $12M from their wage cap desk after sending Barclay Goodrow by way of waivers this previous offseason and now have the monetary freedom to retain key items and be aggressive on the commerce and free agent market. Basic supervisor Chris Drury has stayed adamant on his need to reshape the Rangers roster and buying and selling Trouba was one of many vital steps towards that purpose.
