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The New York Rangers Need to Move on From Defenseman Jacob Trouba This Summer

One Ranger that cannot return after the season that he endured is captain Jacob Trouba. He and his $8 million cap hit need to be moved out of town.

By Conor Power

May 7, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) goes head first into the boards over Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) during the first overtime of game two of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) goes head first into the boards over Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas (88) during the first overtime of game two of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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When we talk about players who cannot return next year for the iconic blueshirts, the one that springs to mind for me is Jacob Trouba. At $8 million against the cap for the next two years and his trade protection dwindling, the Rangers must find a way to get out of this contract. He makes too much money for his poor play, and Braden Schneider has shown himself to be an adequate replacement as the second defenseman on the second pairing.

Trouba attempted as many elbows to opponents' heads in the postseason as games he played well in. He broke his ankle before the end of the season, too, and he had his first suspension and multiple fines. His traditional borderline play has crossed into dirty, and the Rangers can't pay this much money to a player who is constantly in trouble with the league, unavailable with suspensions, or taking unnecessary penalties. It's unbefitting of the captain of this great organization.

Trouba's cap hit will be essential to moving and allow the Rangers to address the roster issues ahead of free agency. Teams will want a small fortune to take on the Trouba deal, but there will be teams that see the upside in the player despite being vastly overpaid. His heavy-hitting and leadership qualities mean he does have a few positives, and he isn't a complete waste as a player; he just shouldn't be playing in the top four anymore.

With only a handful of teams able to take Trouba's deal on and be an eligible trade destination under his modified no-trade clause, the price to move his contract will be substantial. Still, one destination that could work for Trouba is Detroit. He's a Michigan native, and the Red Wings general manager, Steve Yzerman, loves to bolster the blueline wherever possible. The big-hitting Michigander would be a great selling point for the Motor City.

If the Rangers have to go down the nuclear option, they can buyout their captain for a cap hit of $4 million against the cap for each of the following four seasons. It's not a great option, but it opens up a substantial amount of money to allow the Rangers to address the other holes that have appeared over the last couple of seasons. There's no denying that money could be better spent.

This is also a free-agent class rich in defensive options. Players who want to play in a depth role and use their abilities to help the Rangers' defense improve can use the money to address the offensive issues. The Rangers seem to be overdependent on the powerplay, and it's not a new thing here. Either way, there are many better ways to spend the money tied up in Trouba right now.

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