New York Rangers trade captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim

The Rangers have found a buyer for Jacob Trouba.

They are shipping their captain to Anaheim, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on condition of anonymity. In return, New York will receive depth defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and the second of Anaheim’s two fourth-round picks in 2025.

More importantly, the Ducks will assume Trouba’s entire $8 million salary cap hit for the remainder of this season and next. This brings the Rangers’ available cap space to more than $8.5 million and puts them on track to accumulate more than $27 million by the March 7 trade deadline, according to PuckPedia.

The deal was finalized Friday after the Blueshirts prevented the 30-year-old defenseman from participating in morning skate before their 7:30 p.m. home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I think our team needs a different direction,” said head coach Peter Laviolette. “We’re not playing well right now. When you’re not having the success you want on the ice, there has to be a different decision. And that’s the decision.”

The situation had become increasingly untenable, with discomfort lingering since the Rangers’ attempt to trade Trouba over the summer.

He knew his days in New York were numbered and unlikely to stick around for the final year of a seven-year contract he signed in 2019, team president Chris Drury having decided to rip the bandage off now.

It is believed that Trouba’s approval was necessary to complete a deal with the Ducks, who were possibly on his list of 15 non-traded teams. If he had refused to do so, the Rangers likely would have placed him on waivers, allowing any team to claim him.

The Detroit Red Wings, Trouba’s hometown, were also involved in trade talks, according to a league source, but they didn’t have enough cap space to make it work unless the Blueshirts agreed to keep part of your salary or take over an important contract.

Trouba became the third consecutive Rangers captain to be traded while wearing the “C”, joining Ryan Callahan (2014) and Ryan McDonagh (2018).

“I want to sincerely thank Jacob for his contributions to the Rangers and our community,” Drury said in an emailed statement. “Jacob has been an example on and off the ice for our organization and has played a major role in our success over the past several years. Since arriving in New York five years ago and serving as captain for the past three seasons , he showed courage, tenacity and tremendous leadership and we cannot thank Jacob enough for everything he has done for the Rangers.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder’s fall from grace in New York has unfolded over the past few seasons.

He was named the franchise’s 28th captain in August 2022, but the three seasons that followed saw a continued slide. He ranks last among Rangers who have appeared in multiple seasons during this span with an average of 2.95 goals against per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick, with poor skating and a penchant for costly turnovers at the origin of its disturbing statistics.

In 24 games played this season, Trouba recorded just six assists and was still looking for his first goal. His opponents are averaging 36.15 shots per 60 while he’s on the ice at five-on-five, the worst mark of any New York defenseman, with his rotational D partners seeing their play decline no matter who Laviolette associates with him.

This resulted in a recent demotion to the bottom pair – a role that does not fit his $8 million cap hit.

By clearing this salary, Drury opened up possibilities. This will certainly help with next season’s cap crisis, particularly as the Rangers continue tough negotiations with goaltender Igor Shesterkin, but will also allow them to aggressively pursue improvements in an effort to turn things around this season.

The Rangers recalled 22-year-old defenseman Victor Mancini from AHL Hartford to take Trouba’s spot in the lineup, but don’t be surprised to see them try to add a top-four defenseman before March 7. improve their forwards with a blend of speed, scoring and size that will better prepare them for the grind of playoff hockey.

Those trades won’t be easy to come by, especially not at this early stage of the season, but Drury is motivated to reshape a regressing core that has hit a wall while losing six of its last seven.

Trouba was the first to leave, but the entire locker room was put on notice.

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Learn more about his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.