Rangers’ Jacob Trouba opens up about ‘adversity’ amid 4-game skid

“We’re encountering a bit of adversity as a team,” said Trouba, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “It’s clear we should be putting in a better effort, but at this level, there are no moral victories. We need to keep pushing, putting in the work, and turning things around together.”

The Rangers displayed improved performance on Wednesday compared to their recent games, yet Trouba emphasized they are not content with small moral victories. With the team struggling and rumors that president Chris Drury is considering trades involving veterans like Chris Kreider, Trouba, and Ryan Lindgren, changes might be on the horizon.

The Rangers have a mix of experienced veterans and younger players who have been making significant contributions lately. Players such as Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle have been performing well, and Brett Berard even scored his first NHL goal during the loss to the Hurricanes. In contrast, forwards like Trouba, Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad have underperformed, prompting Drury to explore potential roster changes.

One challenge is that Zibanejad, possibly the most disappointing player, has a full no-movement clause in his contract, making him unlikely to be traded. It will be interesting to see what moves Drury decides to make moving forward. Acquiring a player to replace Kreider if he is traded might be difficult, but revitalizing defensive pairings — especially since both Trouba and Lindgren have had their struggles — could be a logical step.

The Rangers will have an opportunity to rebound with upcoming games against the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens on Friday and Saturday. These are teams the Rangers are expected to defeat, and winning both could help alleviate some of the current concerns.