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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNDec 6, 2024, 07:50 PM ET
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
Defenseman Jacob Trouba called out the New York Rangers for how they handled his eventual trade to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, claiming months of public speculation impacted his ability to serve as the team’s captain.
“I wasn’t really thrilled with how it went down. In my opinion, things could have been handled better,” he said. “It’s unfortunate how it all happened. But it’s a rite of passage to get fired from MSG.”
Trouba, 30, was traded to the Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick. Anaheim takes on all of Trouba’s contract, which carries an $8 million average annual value through the 2025-26 season.
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The Rangers had been trying to move Trouba since last offseason to open up salary cap space and create more opportunities for their younger defensemen. Trouba had a no-movement clause in his contract until July, when it converted to a 15-team no-trade clause. Because of that trade protection, a deal didn’t materialize before this season.
“I was put in a situation this summer to make a decision between my career and my family,” he said. “I chose my family. I’d choose my family 100 times over again. I don’t feel bad about that.
“I don’t like that everything unfolded so publicly. I guess that’s part of New York.”
The Rangers have struggled on the ice recently, with six regulation losses in seven games. In response to that lack of success, general manager Chris Drury sent a memo to 31 NHL teams saying he was ready to make trades, specifically mentioning forward Chris Kreider and Trouba as being available.
Trouba said the Rangers came to him Thursday morning and asked him to accept a trade or be scratched for their game Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Trouba did not participate in the Rangers’ morning skate Friday and wasn’t scheduled to play against Pittsburgh for “roster management purposes,” but refused…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/42821475/jacob-trouba-critical-rangers-wake-trade-ducks
Author : Greg Wyshynski
Publish date : 2024-12-07 00:50:00
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