Jacob Trouba Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation, Comments
Jacob Trouba Trade Rumors: Latest News, Information/Updates, and Speculation Surrounding the Winnipeg Jets Defenseman
On Sunday afternoon, the hockey world was left in shock after Trouba’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, released a statement that his client has made a trade request.
A plethora of trade rumors followed the announcement, with Trouba’s agent revealing he had been working with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to trade Trouba since May.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about what the Jets want in return for their young defender, and the teams that are interested in the 22-year-old.
Statement from agent Kurt Overhardt on client Jacob Trouba: #TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/XW2Al27J0Z
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) September 24, 2016
Why did Jacob Trouba request a trade?
Agent Overhardt and his client said that the reason was Trouba is stuck behind Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers on the right side of the back end. The Jets offered their former eighth overall pick a chance to play on left side alongside Byfuglien, but Trouba feels he’s at his best playing on the right.
On the surface, what Trouba’s camp is saying is that playing time is the main reason he wants out. But if you look at the underlying numbers, Trouba was averaging over 22 minutes of TOI in 2015-16. That’s virtually the same as second pairing defender Myers and 35th best in the NHL for defenders who have played over 200 games.
Further increasing my suspicion is that Trouba was reportedly asking for $56 million dollars over eight years earlier in the season. However, as The Hockey News’s Ken Campbell pointed out, that could have just been a ploy to force the Jets to move Trouba. It could be money, playing time, or both, but the bottom line is Jacob Trouba isn’t willing to play for the Jets.
What do the Jets want in return?
Via Today’s Slapshot, TSN’s Bob McKenzie appeared on TSN Montreal 690 with some information on the Trouba situation, and what Jets GM Cheveldayoff is looking for in return.
Nov 26, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) heads into the Buffalo Sabres zone during the third period at First Niagara Center. Jets beat the Sabres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
“There’s lots of interest in him, but there’s maybe not all that many teams that are positioned well to get him,” said McKenzie. “Right now the Winnipeg Jets – if they trade Jacob Trouba, and it is an if because they put out their statement that was kind of a counter to his, basically saying, ‘Hey, we’ll do whatever’s in the best interest of our hockey team.’ But they also know long term that it’s not the best fit and it’s not the best circumstance.
“But right now, the Jets appear to be looking for a high-impact, one-for-one deal. That is ‘Okay, we’re going to trade a guy coming out of entry level who is a right-shot defenseman – which is really valuable in the National Hockey League – and even though we didn’t play him in a Top 4 role because we had Byfuglien and Myers ahead of him on the depth chart, we’re going to treat him as if he’s a Top 4 guy. Therefore, our asking price is we want a Top 4 or top-pairing left-shot defenseman to fill the hole that we would be creating by trading Trouba.’ Because the Jets planned on playing Trouba on the left side with either Byfuglien or Myers this year.”
McKenzie went on to say that teams like the Buffalo Sabres or the Anaheim Ducks, who will no doubt take a look at Trouba, would be most likely asked to give up left-shot RFA’s Rasmus Ristolainen and Hampus Lindholm.
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“I absolutely believe Buffalo would have interest in Jacob Trouba. But not if it means giving up Ristolainen. I do not believe that Buffalo would make that one-for-one trade. Anaheim’s got Hampus Lindholm in a situation where he’s a restricted free agent who doesn’t have a contract yet, so even though Sweden is knocked out, he won’t be in camp this week. Similar situation to Trouba. I don’t believe that Anaheim is prepared to trade Hampus Lindholm to Winnipeg in a one-for-one for Trouba”, McKenzie said.
If you look at trade assets from this perspective, the Arizona Coyotes may be in the best position to acquire Trouba. The Yotes have two budding, young left-shot defenders in Michael Stone and Connor Murphy.
Stone just came off a promising 36-point campaign in the desert while the 23-year-old Murphy emerged as a workhorse on defense this past season. Both signed extensions this summer, but no doubt Coyotes GM John Chayka would be willing to move on of them to get his hands on Trouba. Not only that, but the Coyotes would be able to offer Trouba a spot on the first pairing alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson, as Alex Goligoski is technically a left-side defender.
Jacob Trouba Trade Rumors: Who Has Interest?
ESPN radio host and journalist Jimmy Murphy tweeted on Sunday that the Montreal Canadiens have an interest in Trouba, as well as that the Boston Bruins are actively exploring a Trouba trade.
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The Canadiens have a solid asset in defender Nathan Beaulieu. Beaulieu and a second round pick for Jacob Trouba?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a good fit for Trouba. but so far there has been no sign the Leafs have any interest in the 22-year-old. Damien Cox of Sportsnet and the Toronto Star thinks that Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello could offer up his first round pick for Trouba, and there is also the left-shooting Jake Gardiner that could be packaged in return.
Are the Edmonton Oilers interested in Trouba? Of course, they’ll take a look, but they aren’t ‘beating down the door’ says Bob McKenzie on TSN 1260.
“I guess they (Oilers) might (be interested),” said McKenzie. “As soon as the Trouba news came down, I saw the stuff on Twitter. ‘Oh boy, he’s going to Edmonton. The Oilers will be all over this.’
“I’m not saying the Oilers aren’t interested in Jacob Trouba, but I wouldn’t necessarily categorize them as a team that would be beating down the door to try to make this deal happen. And I don’t know if Winnipeg would perceive Darnell Nurse or Oscar Klefbom as fair value coming back the other way. There’s no question right now the plan is to go with Klefbom and Larsson on the top pair and let Nurse continue to develop more as a third-pair guy.”
Other teams potentially interested include the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Colorado Avalanche.
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