Rangers’ GM Chris Drury on same page with Jacob Trouba following rocky offseason
Just months after the New York Rangers reportedly tried to trade Jacob Trouba, general manager Chris Drury emphasized Tuesday that there are no issues between the organization and its captain.
“We’ve had a number of different conversations over the course of the summer, on a lot of different things,” Drury explained to reporters before the start of training camp. “He is very clear as to where he stands with me and what I think of him as a player and as a leader. I think he’s done a real good job here. As a captain, there’s so many moving parts that go in and out of being captain, especially in New York and especially the Rangers captain.”
Rumors of a Trouba trade were rampant at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. There was a belief that the Rangers had a deal in place with the Detroit Red Wings but Trouba scuttled it strategically with his 15-team no-trade clause.
Drury has long been a fan of Trouba’s, but the defenseman’s $8 million salary-cap hit the next two seasons is the rub. The Rangers were trying to free up some money to make a move or two in free agency, but that didn’t come to pass. As a result, Trouba remains in New York and the Rangers traded for veteran Reilly Smith instead of pursuing a pricier free-agent right wing.
“Whatever gets said on the outside gets said on the outside,” coach Peter Laviolette said Wednesday. “I don’t get too involved with that. I have a great relationship with Jacob … I thought Jacob was a really good captain for us last year. Nothing changes.”
There was concern that Trouba would hold a grudge against the Rangers but Drury stated that the two have had several conversations this offseason.
“Jacob and I talk all the time, as GM and captain should,” Drury said. “I would even include (coach Peter Laviolette) in those conversations. Obviously, being captain, he runs our dressing room and is head of the leadership group.”
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Jacob Trouba should be extra motivated for Rangers in 2024-25
The Rangers expect Trouba to be amped up for a big bounce-back season He had just three goals and 22 points in 69 games last season, as well as a minus-4 rating. He added 73 penalty minutes, the second-highest of his career, in 11 fewer games than his NHL career-high 88 PIM in 81 games (2021-22).
Though he never used this as an excuse, Trouba did suffer an ankle injury late in the regular season that kept him out of the lineup most of March, and likely had him at less than 100 percent in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 30-year-old struggled mightily in the postseason, especially against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final.
There’s a good chance that Trouba is on his way down to the third defensive pair to start this season, likely to be paired with Zac Jones. That allows Braden Schneider to move up to the second pair alongside K’Andre Miller.
Just because Trouba may have less of a role now does not mean that he can’t have a better season than a year ago. He is still just two seasons removed from his 11-goal, 39-point, plus-25 performance in 2021-22. And, according to Drury, has done some good work over the summer.
“Excited to have (Trouba) back, excited for training camp,” Drury mentioned. “I know he had a terrific offseason, training wise.”
Certainly not a terrific offseason otherwise, seeing as he was nearly dealt from the team he’s played passionately for the past five years. All of this could lead to a more motivated Trouba in 2024-25, which is key since the Rangers will rely on him on their top penalty-killing unit and to play important, physical minutes at even strength over the course of the season — whether he starts on the third pair or not.
As for his relationship with Drury and the Rangers, we’ll see what Trouba has got to say later in the week.
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