Which Ranger has the most to prove this season?

Each year, when a new season is about to begin , every NHL team is replete with players who have something to prove.  The New York Rangers are no different, with a number of players on the proverbial hot seat.

They can be players going into their walk years like Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome. They can be highly touted draft picks like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko or Vitali Kravtsov.  They can be goalies like Igor Shesterkin who has been handed the starting job with a new, rich, contract.  They can be new acquisitions like Barclay Goodrow who has to justify his free agent payday.  They can be a player like Adam Fox who only won the Norris Trophy as a sophomore and will be watched closely to see what he can do for an encore.  They can also be veterans who have to justify their big payouts like Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider.

But there is one player on the Rangers who is going into this season with the most pressure on him and the most to prove.  That player is Jacob Trouba.

Why Trouba?

There are eight million reasons why all eyes will be on Jacob Trouba this season.  First and foremost, he has to live up to his status as one of the highest paid defensemen in the NHL.  But it’s not just the money, it’s the contract.  The Rangers are committed to Trouba for the next five years with the first  three years including an ironclad No Movement Clause. Starting in 2024-25 he can submit a list of teams on a no-trade list.

The simple fact is that the Rangers are locked into Trouba for the next three years and probably more.  That’s why the pressure is mounting.  With him guaranteed a spot in the lineup it leaves room for only two other right-shot defensemen.  Adam Fox isn’t going anywhere and the Rangers have Nils Lundkvist, Braden Schneider and Hunter Skinner knocking on the door.  If the Rangers are committed to Fox and Trouba, there is room for only one more right shot blueliner in the lineup and that means Trouba is standing in the way of a player who will inevitably have to be traded.

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With two years as a Ranger under his belt, there are no excuses for Trouba.  In his first season, he had to suffer through a revolving door of defense partners and he had to endure the trading of his best friend, Brady Skjei.   In his second season he had to serve as mentor for K’Andre Miller.  Teamed with a raw rookie, Trouba got the benefit of the doubt when it came to his play since he had to focus on supporting his young partner.  He also missed one third of the season with  thumb injury and possible concussion.

In year three there are no more excuses.  He’s going into the season with Miller as his partner, a pairing he has to be comfortable with.  Adam Fox winning the Norris Trophy winner means Trouba is on the second defense pairing and doesn’t have the pressure of the need to produce big offensive numbers and play on the top pair.

Can he do it?

The encouraging news about Trouba was his growth last season in terms of leadership and maturity.  He took on the role of alternate captain with relish and became a prominent voice in the locker room.  On a team that has to be described as “soft,” Trouba was one of the few big, physical players willing to play a hard game.

While he had the worst offensive season of his career, the lack of scoring was not an issue for Trouba as he became important to the team in other ways.  Sure, he needs to increase his scoring, but if he continues his trajectory as a team leader, scoring just won’t be as important.

At 27 years of age  Jacob Trouba is in his prime.  While this won’t be a make or break season for  Trouba,  the pressure will be on him to take the next big step. If he doesn’t, the focus will be on his salary and the fact that with his contract, he is preventing younger players from making the team.  For that reason he’s dangerously close to becoming the target of the wrath of the fan base.

Ranger fans have to hope that new coach Gerard Gallant will get the most out of Jacob Trouba.  When he signed that seven-year, $56 million contact two years ago, the Rangers put a lot of faith into their new acquisition.   In year three, it’s time for him to prove that he is really worth it.