The New York Rangers and Jacob Trouba appear headed towards a divorce.
Friday, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple first reported that the Rangers captain would not play tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the team was calling up reserve defenseman Victor Mancini.
USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano added a few minutes later that Trouba was sitting out for “roster management reasons.”
Per league source, Jacob Trouba will not be skating with the #NYR for “roster management” purposes. Sounds like a ball is in the air, whether it be trade or possible waiving.
Victor Mancini has been recalled.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) December 6, 2024
The Rangers have “multiple deals on the table” for Trouba and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman writes “this is absolute hardball” to move him since the rugged rearguard has a 15-team, no-trade clause.
Hearing Rangers do have several options, but Trouba can block with his partial no-trade. Rangers have indicated they will waive him if he does not accept one. One team is believed to be Columbus.
This is absolute hardball, but there is a precedent. In November 2005, Todd Marchant refused to waive his no-trade from Columbus to Anaheim as part of the Sergei Fedorov deal. So the Blue Jackets waived him, and the Ducks made the claim to “complete” the transaction.
We will see what the day brings
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and Buffalo Sabres have all had talks with the Rangers about a possible trade.
Trouba’s pending move out of town comes nearly two weeks after the Rangers made it known they were looking to shake up the team and Trouba and Chris Kreider were among the star players available.
Trouba, 30, has two seasons remaining on a seven-year deal worth $8 million per season. The Rangers reportedly tried to trade him over the offseason as well.
New York currently sits fourth in the Metropolitan Division with 27 standings points after starting the season with a 13-10-1 record. They are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games.
Update, 2:01 pm: Trouba was not placed on NHL waivers per Friedman.
Update, 2:26 pm: The NY Post’s Larry Brooks reports Trouba is being traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
Update 2:40 pm: Full details of the trade and what may be going on behind the scenes.
Jacob Trouba traded to Anaheim Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick
