Jacob Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Geese by the New York Rangers on Friday for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round choose within the 2025 NHL Draft.
Earlier Friday, the Rangers introduced that Trouba, the staff’s captain, wouldn’t be within the lineup for his or her 4-2 win towards the Pittsburgh Penguins for roster administration functions, leaving the defenseman’s future with the staff unclear. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette stated that the staff had determined to maneuver in a unique route.
“I believe our staff wants a route,” Laviolette stated. “We’re not enjoying nicely proper now. I believe if you’re not having the success that you really want there needs to be a route that strikes in another way. This was the choice.”
Laviolette added after the win towards the Penguins, “I can let you know and I stated this to him, I assumed whereas we have been right here, our time right here, I assumed he was a very good participant and a very good teammate, a very good individual. I assumed he labored laborious and tried to set a fantastic instance for the New York Rangers. Nowadays are by no means simple. I loved working with him and I want him nothing however one of the best. He’s a very good man and this was clearly a troublesome day. Change is a troublesome day. I want him one of the best. For his time that he was right here, I assumed that he was superb for us.”
Rangers basic supervisor Chris Drury stated Saturday they’re in no rush to call a brand new captain.
“No set timeline in any respect,” Drury stated. “I do assume with having the captain traded it’s going to open up a possibility for another individuals to step up into management roles no matter what 12 months they’re within the League or what 12 months they’re right here.
“I do assume we’ve lots of good leaders in lots of completely different areas on our staff no matter age or expertise, and I believe some individuals are wanting to step up in that regard. It’ll be good to observe and see.”
Trouba, 30, has another season remaining on the seven-year, $56 million contract ($8 million common annual worth) he signed with the Rangers as a restricted free agent on July 19, 2019, after he was acquired in a commerce with the Winnipeg Jets. The Geese will tackle the rest of the contract.
“Anaheim was one of many locations my spouse and I have been keen on,” Trouba stated. “Simply every part about it. The place the staff’s at, I believe they’ve a fantastic alternative within the subsequent couple years. It is form of an identical scenario to after I got here to New York with the actually good younger gamers which can be able to take the following step, and if there’s one thing I can do to assist contribute to that, I believe that is my aim.
“Clearly, I’m pals with (Geese forwards) Frank (Vatrano) and Ryan Strome, so these are two guys that I’ve talked to prior to now. I’m nonetheless fairly good buddies with them, have talked to them over the previous couple of years, so, clearly I do know what they are saying in regards to the group, they usually converse very extremely of the gamers and the staff. It’s a corporation that is able to take the following actual step, and hopefully that is one other step in the correct route.”
Trouba performed 16:45 for New York (14-11-1) in a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, and a season-low 13:37 in a 4-3 win towards the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 30.
On Saturday, the Rangers signed goalie Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million AAV) that begins subsequent season. Shesterkin may have change into an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2025.
The Rangers play the fourth of a five-game homestand Sunday towards the Seattle Kraken (1 p.m. ET; KHN, KONG, NHLN, MSG, SN, TVAS).
“There’s all the time lots of transferring elements and it’s my job to attempt to determine on a day after day and week to week foundation on what the staff wants,” Drury stated. “I’m definitely not opposed to creating extra adjustments, however massive image with that stated, the staff has been by way of loads the final couple of weeks and positively this week. I’d prefer to let the mud settle a bit of bit. … We’d similar to to let the staff get settled with this a bit of bit.
“We had a very good sport final evening, and I believe we performed higher in the previous couple of video games earlier than the win [Friday] evening. Wanting ahead to hopefully ending off this homestand with Seattle and Chicago on a optimistic notice.”
The Rangers, who received the Presidents’ Trophy final season for having one of the best document within the League and superior to the Japanese Convention Closing, are fourth within the Metropolitan Division and presently maintain the primary wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Japanese Convention.
“It is not meant to be a message (to the remainder of the staff),” Laviolette stated previous to the commerce. “I believe all people is knowing of the place we’ve been for the final month and the way we’ve performed. We are able to’t proceed down that street or we’ll discover ourselves out of the playoffs. The perfect factor is we have to set a path that may transfer us again up within the standings and we have not performed nicely. I didn’t view it like that, however it’s a change.”