Jacob Trouba off to slow start with Ducks after trade from Rangers
Jacob Trouba was off to a slow start with the New York Rangers this season before the 30-year-old defenseman was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. The now-former Rangers captain’s first three games with his new team have been a continuation of those struggles.
The Ducks (10-14-4) have each of the three games since Trouba joined them – a 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in the opener of a four-game road trip, a 5-1 drubbing to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. They complete the trip by visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Trouba did not have a point in any of the three games. His ice time has gone down – after playing 22:35 against Montreal, he played 17:49 against Ottawa and 17:43 against Toronto. His three-game average TOI of 19:22 is down slightly from 20:00 in 24 games with the Rangers, and he’s on target for a career low in average ice time – the least he’s ever averaged is 21:12 with the Rangers in 2022-23.
It’s not surprising that Trouba hasn’t had a point in his three games with the Ducks; he had none in his final six games with the Rangers and produced just six assists in 24 games with New York. The offensive slide continues a trend – after finishing 2021-22 with 11 goals and 39 points, he dropped to eight goals and 30 points in 2022-23 and a full-season NHL career-low three goals and 22 points last season.
More disappointing for the Ducks has to be that Trouba has been on the ice for six of the nine non-shootout goals scored against the Ducks in the three games – four at even strength and two on the power play. He was on ice for the game-tying goal in Montreal, the first four tallies in Ottawa — two at even strength and two on the power play – and a second-period goal by Toronto’s Max Pacioretty that proved to be the game-decider Thursday.
Related: K’Andre Miller lands on IR in latest hit to Rangers defense corps
Jacob Trouba’s early struggles with Ducks mirror his Rangers issues
Trouba has been on the ice for just one goal for the Ducks, a meaningless late goal by Cutter Gauthier in the loss at Ottawa. He’s minus-3 in three games, matching his total in 24 games with New York.
The one area where his stats have gone up is hits. Trouba had 39 hits in 24 games (1.63 per game; 4.87 per 60 minutes) with the Rangers before the trade. In three games with the Ducks, he has 11 (3.67 per game; 11:35 per 60 minutes). The Ducks are desperate to become a team that’s harder for opponents to play against on a nightly basis, and Trouba can make life much more unpleasant for opposing forwards.
But all in all, it’s safe to say an $8 million defenseman who’s off to a start like Trouba’s wasn’t what Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek envisioned when he pulled the trigger on the deal.
“Jacob is a highly respected player in this league whose character and leadership qualities on and off the ice are second to none,” Verbeek said after making the trade. “We believe Jacob has many more years in this league and hope he is a big part of our future success. It’s rare you are able to acquire a player with Jacob’s experience, stature and ability. On the ice he competes every shift, leads by example and is a presence on the blue line every night.”
It’s only three games, and little was expected from the Ducks this season as they continue their rebuild. But the early results make the Anaheim version of Trouba look much like the one the Rangers were desperate to unload – a slow, physical 30-year-old defenseman whose best NHL seasons are behind him.
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