Polarizing former Rangers captain avoids NHL suspension after another borderline hit
Just because Jacob Trouba no longer plays under the glare of the New York Rangers spotlight, it doesn’t mean he’s become a wallflower with the Anaheim Ducks.
In fact, the spotlight found the hard-hitting defenseman Sunday. Or, perhaps, it was the other way around and Trouba grabbed the spotlight.
Either way, the former Rangers captain faced scrutiny yet again after one of his signature massive checks laid out Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues.
Late in the first period of what turned out to be a 7-2 Ducks loss on the road, Trouba leaned forward and launched himself into Kyrou, right after the Blues forward moved the puck in his own end of the ice. The impact of the high hit lifted Kyrou off the ice and he spun in the air before crashing down.
It was straight out of the Trouba playbook. Looking to wake up his team, which was trailing 2-0 already, Trouba smoked an opponent with a bone-rattling hit. Nothing the Rangers and their fans didn’t see numerous times a year over his six seasons on Broadway.
But as with many of those big hits with the Rangers, this one Sunday was controversial. Trouba made contact with Kyrou’s jaw and head. The on-ice officials and later the NHL Department of Player Safety believed Trouba didn’t target the head and instead went through Kyrou’s shoulder first.
Needless to say, there were a lot of hockey people pissed that Trouba didn’t receive a penalty on the play nor supplemental discipline. There were many others who believed no penalty was warranted.
Such is the case with Trouba, a lightning rod for hot takes and debate for his robust physical style, that often has crossed the line, leading to prior suspensions. It’s never black and white with him.
Blues captain Brayden Schenn, honored in a pregame ceremony for playing his 1,000th NHL game, immediately stepped in to fight Trouba after the hit. Though his helmet was ripped off early in the fight, Trouba got the best of Schenn in a battle of two veterans.
As for Kyrou, he headed to the dressing room after the hit at 17:23 but returned for the start of the second period. The 26-year-old got the last laugh, finishing with three assists in the Blues rout.
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Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba playing typical physical style with Ducks
Trouba was traded to the Ducks by the Rangers on Dec. 6 in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round draft pick. That was the first of seven trades made by the Rangers to shake up their mix amid a disappointing season. Also shipped out during the season were forwards Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith, and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Victor Mancini.
Despite the turnover and brutal play earlier in the season, the Rangers (33-29-6) are the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Trouba’s Ducks (29-31-7) are eight points below the postseason cut-off line in the Western Conference.
The 31-year-old is averaging 20:48 TOI in 42 games with Anaheim. He’s second on the Ducks with 114 blocked shots and averages 7.14 hits per 60 minutes, to go along with seven points (one goal, six assists) and 40 penalty minutes.
Trouba has one more season remaining on his contract, that pays him $8 million annually.
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