Since the conclusion of the Rangers’ season in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, captain Jacob Trouba has been the focus of trade rumors. According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, who was citing conversations within the organization about trading Trouba as evidence, the team has contacted the attorneys of the 15 teams on Trouba’s no-trade list. The list will take effect on July 1st, following four seasons of a full no-move clause.
On Tuesday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic and Staple stated that “there’s no indication as of yet that the Rangers are entertaining a Trouba move.” Therefore, his article on Thursday constitutes the first convincing hint that general manager Chris Drury is contemplating such a move. In the Trouba trade talks, the Blueshirts have not been linked to any specific teams. Drury could make a huge statement in the free agency market this summer if he were to move Trouba, who has two seasons left at a $8 million budget hit. After reportedly seeking the best available left winger, Jake Guentzel, around the trade deadline earlier this season, New York is now being linked to him again.
If the Rangers aren’t keeping any of Trouba’s contract, he probably won’t be worth much in a trade after what was perhaps his worst season with the club. Despite missing a large portion of the regular season due to an ankle injury, the 30-year-old still managed to put up a -4 rating in 69 games played. He scored three goals, assisted on nineteen others, and had 22 points.
His regular season ice time of 21:15 minutes dropped to 20:59 minutes per game in the playoffs. With six assists and one goal in sixteen games played, he had a respectable attacking performance. According to MoneyPuck, his typical playoff combination with K’Andre Miller had a hard time controlling the tempo of play at even strength, going 41.5 xGF% in 92 minutes played together. When used in the third pairing with Erik Gustafsson, the upcoming UFA, he performed far better.
Even though he’s their captain, spending $8 million on someone who’s about to turn 30 and might start the next season in the bottom pairing against promising rookie Braden Schneider is a lot of money. Given that Schneider is an RFA who needs a new deal this summer, he has become expendable. Drury will prioritize adding depth scoring and freeing up cap room for an Igor Shesterkin extension in the future. Entering his final season under contract, the perennial Vezina candidate will be eligible for a mega-deal with a budget charge of $5.67 million.
