The Detroit Red Wings have had a quiet offseason so far. They kicked off free agency by extending Patrick Kane before making a series of solid (if slightly underwhelming) moves. Players like David Perron and Shayne Gostisbehere now call new teams home. All in all, the Wings are left with a lot of questions and not enough answers. They ended last season on the cusp of greatness, missing the playoffs by a mere technicality. What is general manager Steve Yzerman‘s plan to address the team’s concerns? Well, some have pointed to New York Rangers defenceman (and captain) Jacob Trouba as the answer.
Trouba has two years left on his contract at a hefty $8M AAV a year. He’ll be 30 when the season starts and 32 when it ends. Is he a good fit for Detroit? What does he offer to the organization that the Wings currently lack? And — most importantly — what would be the cost to acquire the Rangers’ franchise captain?
What Trouba Trade Brings to the Red Wings
Standing at 6’3″ and weighing in at 209 lbs, Trouba is a force to be reckoned with. He’s known for crushing blows, controversial plays and bringing the heat every night at Madison Square Garden. While he’s only put together 309 points in 748 games with the Rangers, he’s not the kind of player a team would acquire for offensive output. Instead, he’s a high-energy, hard-hitting guy who will give it his all every night. Think of him as America’s volatile answer to Sweden’s Niklas Kronwall. The clip below shows just a little taste of what Trouba can bring to the Wings:
Physicality is something the Wings have lacked for years. Trouba is the exact kind of player you’d want standing up to guys like Mathieu Joseph when they try going after Dylan Larkin. Trouba’s teammates — both current and former — praise him for his competitiveness and his engaging spirit. Two seasons ago, his fight with Jonathan Toews sparked the Rangers to a seven-game winning streak and a 36-12-8 record on the remainder of the season. In addition, he’s heavily involved in his community and is often seen going out of his way for his fans. He started a nonprofit in New York for children with epilepsy and frequently goes out of his way to represent his community. Having a guy like that as a mentor and teammate would be massive for a team like Detroit as they approach the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.
The Biggest Concerns About Trouba
Having said that, there are many concerns when it comes to Trouba that might give Detroit pause. His high-risk play style racks up penalty minutes at an incredibly concerning rate. Trouba led the Rangers in penalty minutes during the playoffs with 22 in 16 games. That’s over a period of a playoff game without your captain and – arguably – one of your best defencemen. While it’s true that Trouba has only been suspended twice in his career, concerns about his play have often resulted in penalties and injuries to opposing players. In addition, his defensive analytics leave a lot to be desired:
Should the Rangers trade Jacob Trouba?
…Can the Rangers trade Jacob Trouba? pic.twitter.com/YHSQwLabPn
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 3, 2024
There’s not a lot of impact Trouba can make to the Wings’ defensive core that will push them over the top. Can he play better than Ben Chiarot or Jeff Petry? All signs point to yes. But is “better than Chiarot and Petry” the standard the Wings should use? Why wouldn’t they aim for something higher than “better than our worst defencemen”? This, of course, doesn’t even scratch the surface with his contract and modified no-trade clause. If Detroit is on his 15 team no-trade list, the Rangers would need to convince him to waive his clause for the trade.
The Cost for a Trouba Trade
At $8M a year for two years, Trouba carries an enormous price tag — a cost that doesn’t line up with his production. The Rangers would likely need to absorb part or even half of his salary for Detroit to even consider the trade. In addition, the Rangers are trading their franchise captain. While they’ve been known to do it in the past, it isn’t something that’s done lightly by any organization. They’ll want something back in return, whether that’s a replacement defenseman or draft capital. If the relationship between the Rangers and Trouba’s camp is beyond mending, the Wings may be able to secure a deal at a discount. But would the juice be worth the squeeze? This deal will age as poorly as Petry’s contract has — and repeating something like that at a time like this is asking for trouble.
Hypothetical trade: the Red Wings acquire Jacob Trouba (35% salary retained) from the Rangers in exchange for Justin Holl and a late round draft pick. The trade benefits both sides, freeing up cap space for the Rangers while giving Detroit another defenceman.
Conclusion: To Trade for Trouba, or Not?
Even with this win-win trade, a move of this magnitude just doesn’t seem likely. The cards are in Trouba’s hands. It’s up to him on whether or not he wants to leave New York. Still, an affordable Trouba at a lower cost could be a great stopgap for the Wings — and an excellent mentor for Simon Edvinsson. As long as the Wings don’t overpay, this move has the potential to be a low-risk, medium-reward trade. It’s up to Trouba — and Steve Yzerman, for that matter — if they want to make things work.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
