The New York Rangers have been conversing about captain Jacob Trouba throughout the summer. Having conversations with teams across the league about who was willing to take on the contract of the Rangers captain, there was an understanding that Trouba would have been disgruntled ending up anywhere but New York with his wife having begun a medical residency in the city. While it's terrific she wants to help people, hockey is a business first, and Trouba may finally be on his way out the door.
CBJ, Det and Anaheim among the crop of teams circling around Trouba and the NYR. Complicated. Nothing going on between the Rangers and Ottawa Senators. Zilch.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 6, 2024
According to reports from Elliotte Friedman, Emily Kaplan, and Darren Dreger of Sportsnet, ESPN, and TSN, respectively, the conversations around the Rangers captain have picked up. Throughout the summer, it was Detroit that reportedly had an interest in the Rangers defenseman. Still, Anaheim, Columbus, and Buffalo have allegedly entered the race alongside Detroit to pick up the captain of the New York Rangers.
This is important because Trouba has a 15-team no-trade list. The Rangers captain wants to stay in the city and can block trades to several destinations. However, a modified no-trade clause does not mean he cannot find his way to a new team. If he doesn't waive, Friedman suggests that the Rangers could waive Trouba to get a deal done. It's the ultimate hardball, but Friedman quickly reminded us of a precedent set in 2005 using the Todd Marchant deal between Columbus and Anaheim.
Among the teams I’ve heard have talked to the NYR about Jacob Trouba include Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo, Columbus.
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) December 6, 2024
We’ll see what happens today, but Trouba has known for some time this was a strong possibility. Crazy to see it go down this way.
The Rangers did something very similar a few months ago with Barclay Goodrow. Waiving him when he wouldn't waive his modified no-trade clause to get him to San Jose and get out from under that contract. It's something the Blueshirts will do, and they seem desperate to get away from this Trouba contract. As for what comes the other way, I'm not sure yet. Could it be a dump of Trouba? Potentially. But the Rangers seem set on moving him.
Okay, Jacob Trouba:
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 6, 2024
Hearing Rangers do have several options, but Trouba can block with his partial no-trade. Rangers have indicated they will waive him if he does not accept one. One team is believed to be Columbus.
This is absolute hardball, but there is a precedent. In…
To clear up some other rumors from yesterday, Darren Dreger suggests nothing is happening between the Rangers and the Senators. It ends my speculation from yesterday, but it may not be set in stone. Dreger said nothing was happening, but Kaplan thought the Senators might be another team interested in taking on Jacob Trouba. We'll see where all this leads, but changes are afoot for the Blueshirts.