The Rangers Have Essentially Exiled Jacob Trouba

The Rangers Have Essentially Exiled Jacob Trouba

The Rangers have a Jacob Trouba problem. We knew it six months ago. Except now Chris Drury has decided to pour gasoline all over it unpromptedly.

The Rangers are now giving their captain an ultimatum. Accept a trade out of town or they will straight up cut the player. This is Napoleon getting sent to Elba territory.

The NY Post was the first to report the news:

“Jacob Trouba will be held out of the Rangers’ matchup with the Penguins Friday night for purposes of “roster management,” The Post has learned.”

“The decision appears to be a prelude for a trade for the Rangers captain.”

“The notion that Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury hasn’t spoken with Trouba is completely false, The Post’s Larry Brooks reported.”

“In fact, the two have spoken multiple times both in a group setting and one-on-one, including Friday morning.”

“It is believed that if Trouba does not accept a trade, the Rangers told No. 8 they will put him on waivers.”

The crux of the problem is this:

Trouba is no longer an $8 million per year player. The best way for the Rangers to improve the team is by turning Trouba’s money into two-three better contributors.

Trouba also has a no-trade and can block essentially any deal he wants.

Trouba doesn’t want to leave the Rangers. His wife finishes her medical residency in July of 2025. He has a 15-team no-trade.

This is the part I don’t really get. Does Chris Drury actually have leverage here because I don’t see it. Are you telling me some team out there is just going to do the Rangers a favor and take on the contract free of charge? I refuse to believe that.

This is the other problem with the Rangers’ approach. They’re in the midst of Igor Shesterkin contract talks. When you treat a captain like this, does that really incentivize guys to take less to stay? The way the Rangers are handling this can’t go over well in the locker room.

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