Before it really ever got started, the Jacob Trouba era in Winnipeg could be coming to an end. What was once one of those “good problems”, the log jam at the right side of the Winnipeg Jets‘ defense corps has caught up to them. Feeling that the excess of right handed defenemen in Winnipeg is interfering with his potential, Trouba wants out.
Jacob Trouba Requests Trade
The hope was that his return from the World Cup of Hockey would mark the start of meaningful contract negotiations. Instead, a blockbuster trade looms.
Trouba joins the long list of Kurt Overhardt represented players who have requested a change of scenery. Be it on the penalty kill, with Mark Stuart, or on his offside, Trouba has spent the majority of his career under undesirable conditions. This is the result of being behind Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers on the depth chart.
Though statistical evidence suggests Trouba is the better player, the Jets organization is quite fond of Myers. He carries a cap hit of $5.5 million per year, but only earns $3.5 million in real dollars on average thanks to a front loaded contract by the Buffalo Sabres under the old collective bargaining agreement. This, combined with his daunting size, has created a seemingly inseparable relationship.
Missed Opportunities for Winnipeg
Trouba should not be vilified for his requests. While some pundits believe playing on his opposite side with Byfuglien is a great opportunity, he clearly doesn’t. Trouba is not at his best when played on the left. If this is where he is to play during the prime years of his career, he’s missing out. When greater opportunities are available, human instinct is to jump on them. This is the case with Jacob Trouba. His agent has made it clear that he wishes to “realize his potential as a right shot NHL defenseman.”
Perhaps most frustrating for Jets fans is the report of Trouba requesting a trade as early as May. Trouba’s inferior Adam Larsson managed to reel in winger Taylor Hall for the New Jersey Devils in June. While acquiring someone like Hall wouldn’t solve the Jets’ lack of defense depth, he is a world class player. A Trouba for Hall trade would have given the Jets a proven talent as well as making their forward prospects more expendable. From here they could easily approach a team like the Anaheim Ducks who are willing unload a defender. A potential package including Kyle Connor for RFA Hampus Lindholm could have been a real possibility.
Potential Trades for Trouba
Failing to capitalize on a Hall deal is not a lost cause, however, as the Ducks have not yet resigned Lindholm. A trade involving Trouba for Lindholm is desirable for both teams at the moment. The Ducks have a surplus of defenders on the left side, the Jets have a surplus on the right. The Jets however, need to be sending something other than just Trouba over to Anaheim in this deal. Lindholm is the better player and it’s not exactly marginal.
Trouba would likely prefer being involved in a trade involving Sabres RFA Rasmus Ristolainen. This would reunite Trouba with ex-roommate Zach Bogosian, but doesn’t help the Jets’ cause as Ristolainen is would be a downgrade and also plays on the right side.
Though a reunion here is highly unlikely, Jets fans at least have a glimpse of optimism. Trouba’s camp credited Tyler Myers as being worthy of his playing time, and didn’t publicly bash Stuart, his anchor of a defense partner. The crisis is strictly hockey related, whereas the Evander Kane saga was a locker room issue. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff‘s hand isn’t entirely forced like it was before.
Cheveldayoff’s statement on the matter has also left the door open for Trouba’s return. He clams that “Jacob Trouba has played a key role for the Winnipeg Jets and in our view still represents an important part of the long-term future of our club.”
The optimism though is of course far fetched. The writing appears to be on the wall. Jacob Trouba’s trade request could mark the unfortunate end of a promising relationship.
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