ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Anaheim Ducks have officially welcomed New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba through a trade, which involved defenseman Urho Vaakanainen along with a future fourth-round draft choice. This information comes from a knowledgeable source who requested anonymity while the final details of the agreement were being completed.
This trade marks the conclusion of Trouba’s five-year stint with the Rangers, a team currently struggling with a seven-game losing streak. The skilled 30-year-old defenseman made his way to New York via a trade from Winnipeg in 2019, subsequently being named the Rangers’ captain before the start of the 2022-23 season.
Widely regarded as one of the top checking defensemen in the NHL, Trouba has been experiencing a drop in his performance this season, tallying six assists in 23 games. His output is not reflective of his peak years, particularly the impressive 50 points he achieved while with Winnipeg during the 2018-19 season.
Since the summer, Trouba has been at the center of trade discussions, especially as New York expressed a clear intention to overhaul their roster. Despite his involvement in trade conversations, Trouba has a significant no-trade clause that limited movement options. He is currently in the midst of the sixth year of his seven-year, $56 million contract, which has further complicated trade negotiations due to its hefty financial implications.
The Ducks are positioned to handle the remaining one and a half years of Trouba’s contract, as they currently maintain one of the lowest payrolls in the league. General Manager Pat Verbeek has sufficient salary cap space after not securing top free agents during the previous summer.
On the other side of the trade, Urho Vaakanainen has not taken to the ice for the Ducks since November 13 due to an upper-body injury. Last season, the veteran competed in 68 games, contributing with a single goal for Anaheim.
With Trouba now on board, he is expected to play an essential role on the Ducks’ defense as the team currently finds itself at the bottom of the Pacific Division standings.
