Reports on Friday suggested that Jacob Trouba’s time as captain of the New York Rangers may be coming to an end, but he still has significant backing from his teammates. Center Mika Zibanejad commented to USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano, “That’s a decision for the team and him to make, but as a player, teammate, and friend, we care about him a lot.”
Earlier that day, Larry Brooks from the New York Post noted that Trouba would miss the Rangers’ morning skate and the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins due to roster management. If the Rangers, led by general manager Chris Drury, decide to part ways with Trouba, he will have a degree of influence in the matter thanks to his 15-team no-trade clause and an annual average salary of $8 million. He has one year left on his contract, after which the clause will be reduced to 12 teams.
Trouba has been the subject of trade rumors for a while, starting last offseason and being revisited recently when Drury indicated to other general managers that the defenseman was available. In 24 games this season, Trouba has recorded six assists. The 30-year-old, originally from Rochester, Mich., finished the previous season with 22 points, including three goals and 19 assists over 69 games.
The Rangers acquired Trouba in 2019 from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a first-round pick and defenseman Neal Pionk. Currently, the Rangers have a record of 13-10-1, putting them in second place in the Eastern Conference wildcard race. With Trouba absent, the team aims to rebound against the Penguins after a disappointing 5-1 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
