Revisiting Jacob Trouba for Neal Pionk trade ahead of Rangers vs. Jets clash
As the New York Rangers prepare to face the League-leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, we’ll get another side-by-side comparison of two defenseman who were swapped between these two teams in June 2019.
Jacob Trouba was traded to the Rangers for Neal Pionk and a first-round pick, a massive deal that was set to give the Rangers a huge boost on defense amidst their sped-up rebuild heading into the 2019-20 season.
In Winnipeg, Trouba had established himself as a consistent top-four defenseman. In his last season with the Jets, he certainly upped his trade value by scoring 50 points, an NHL career high, before heading to New York. Since then, he signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers, carrying an AAV of $8 million. He has also served as their captain since the 2022-23 season and become a veteran leader for this group.
Trouba also hasn’t come close to matching his final season with the Jets, at least not offensively. He did have 39 points in 2021-22 and 30 the following season, though scoring is not always the best measure of his value.
Pionk had a solid two seasons with the Rangers before the trade to Winnipeg. In his rookie season he played in 28 games, earning 14 points in the 2017-18 season. In his first full season in the NHL, he logged 26 points in 73 games, but was a minus-16 on a struggling Rangers team.
Since being traded to the Jets, he has been a top-four mainstay. Pionk set an NHL career-high with 45 points in his first season after the trade and has been over 30 every season since. He’s off to a great start offensively this season with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 15 games, fourth among all NHL defensemen.
He is currently on a four-year $5.875 million AAV contract with the Jets.
Side note, that first-round pick in the trade? Winnipeg selected defenseman Ville Heinola with the pick and the oft-injured 23-year-old has played just 35 NHL games, including 10 this season.
Related: Rangers vs. Jets: 3 things to watch for facing off against top team in NHL
Trouba and Pionk face off against former teams
While both players have done a fine job since being swapped for one another, let’s take a look at how things are shaking out present day.
The road for Trouba has been a rocky one, to say the least. After a down season in 2023-24 with just 22 points in 69 games and struggles in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there was speculation that general manager Chris Drury tried to trade his captain and free up that $8 million in cap space. This didn’t go over well with Trouba, and rumors spread regarding the possibility that he may have even shut the trade down with his no-move clause.
Trouba got off to a hot start on the season with four assists in his first three games, but has just one assist in his past 10. He’s yet to find the back of the net, but all things considered, is off to a better start this season than how he ended the last.
That being said, it’s still been a rough go for the Rangers captain. According to Natural Stat Trick, Trouba has been on the ice for 98 scoring chances for, 185 against, as well as 46 high-danger chances for, 78 against in all situations. However, the Rangers have a slight edge in scoring, 13-12, when he’s been on the ice. His xGF at 5v5 is decent, 49.6 percent.
Pionk couldn’t be having a better time in Winnipeg. The Jets are rolling this season with a 14-1-0 record, the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games. Pionk has been the better player of these two offensively with 14 points, and his scoring chances look much better, though that could also be because he is on a team that’s playing much better this season. Still, his 52.99 percent xGF 5v5 is impressive.
In all situations, Pionk has been on the ice for 147 scoring chances for, 145 against, and 69 high-danger chances for, 61 against. The Jets have outscored opponents 33-18 when he’s been on the ice. His numbers are vastly better than Trouba’s in these categories.
Compare them in any way you like, these are two second-pair defensemen with very different play styles. Trouba is a more physical defenseman, a shot blocker, and a captain. Pionk is more skillful, offensive-minded, and uses his skating to enhance his play.
Winner or loser in this trade? Again, there are many ways to judge that. But in the end, the Rangers have reached the conference final in two of the past three seasons with Trouba playing a big role. The Jets have advanced to the second round of the playoffs once since the trade.
But make your own judgement Tuesday when Trouba’s Rangers and Pionk’s Jets face-off at MSG.
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