After their failed attempt to trade Jacob Trouba last summer, the New York Rangers could finally get a deal done to send their captain to another organization.
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba. Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Trouba was one of the key players involved in trade rumors in the offseason. After five seasons with the Rangers, and at 30 years old, it truly seemed that Trouba would be on his way out of the organization.
However, his 15-team no-trade list complicated things for general manager Chris Drury, and Trouba remained with the team entering the 2024-25 NHL season.
This doesn't mean that Trouba, who has two seasons left on his seven-year, $8 million AAV contract, will remain with the Rangers. According to a new report, Trouba's camp knows that the team will look to trade him this summer either way.
This is what Arthur Staples wrote for The Athletic. He even qualified the Rangers' attempt to trade him last summer was 'ill-advised."
In his own words:
"The brief, futile attempt to get him to waive his no-trade clause and leave this past offseason was a bit ill-advised, but Trouba and his camp seem to understand that this is going to happen next summer with or without their input."
This season, Trouba scored five points in 12 games with the Blueshirts, while bringing his usual physicality. He is set to play an important role with the team this year, but all points toward the fact that he'll change team next summer.
The Rangers have many key free agents to sign before next year, such as Igor Shesterkin, K'Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko. If Drury wants to sign them all, he'll need to make tough calls to free up cap space.