Last week in the NHL was dominated by the Jacob Trouba trade situation. It was anticipated that the tough defenseman would be moved, and there were credible reports linking him to the Montreal Canadiens.
Many fans and analysts supported the idea of acquiring him, but of course, not without reasonable terms.
Now, we have clarity on the situation.
The Cost for Jacob Trouba
According to BPM Sports, Trouba has been traded from the Rangers to the Ducks, receiving Urho Vaakanainen (a former 1st-round pick from 2017) and a 4th-round pick in 2025 in return.
At 25, Vaakanainen has played 141 NHL games and scored 25 points. At this stage in his career, he appears to be more of a 6th or 7th defenseman. Considering all this, we can infer that what Chris Drury sought from Kent Hughes in exchange for Trouba was likely quite similar.
Would you have traded a 4th-round pick in 2025 plus a depth defenseman to acquire the former captain of the New York Rangers?
Personally, I think he could have been a valuable addition to the young Montreal squad and would have helped solidify their defensive lineup. However, missing out on him isn’t a disaster either.
Jacob Trouba, now 30, is a physically imposing defenseman, standing 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 212 pounds. He was selected 9th overall in the 2012 draft and has recorded 28 points over the past two seasons. He is under contract until 2026 at a rate of $8 million per year.
