The NHL Department of Player Safety has made its ruling and the New York Rangers will be without their captain. DOPS has ruled and has left Jacob Trouba suspended for two games after an incident came down in Friday night’s game. The ruling was made late Saturday afternoon.
NY Rangers’ Jacob Trouba has been suspended for two games for elbowing Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev. https://t.co/IB2OwULxk1
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 27, 2024
Jacob Trouba Suspended for a Pair
Trouba elbowed Vegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev at 18:08 of the second period. “Following a face-off in the Rangers’ left defensive circle, Trouba hit Dorofeyev in the head with his left elbow after the two were jockeying for position.” This quote came from DPOS in a statement about the suspension. No penalty resulted from the hit during the game.
The Rochester, Mich native has three goals and 16 assists for 19 points in 48 games this season. He has played for the Winnipeg Jets and the Rangers in his 11-year NHL career. The veteran defender has a Corsi for of 41.8 and a relative Corsi of -14.9.
Trouba has 73 goals and 233 assists for 306 points in 727 career games. Winnipeg selected Trouba in the first round, ninth overall of the 2010 NHL Draft.
What it Means
The hard-hitting defenceman has always skirted the line of being aggressive and dirty. He’s had some hits that have absolutely wiped out opponents and sent them to the locker room.
Trouba has avoided supplemental discipline in most cases, but likely should have been suspended earlier in the season. The veteran defenceman got away with a high-stick to Boston Bruins winger Trent Frederic earlier in the season.
New York is in the middle of its worst stretch of the season right before the All-Star Break. The Blueshirts will have to without one of their stalwarts on the backend for the next two games. Part one of the season wraps up on Saturday night when the Rangers have to travel up north to face the Ottawa Senators.
Main photo by: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports