Confirmed with Link: [ANA/NYR] Jacob Trouba for Urho Vaakanainen and 2025 4th round pick

[Deuce22]

If Trouba needed a fresh start and isn't cooked and Verbeek gets Fowler out of here immediately, I could see this as a positive. But I'm coping more than thinking.

 

[Firequacker]

If I'm trying to gaslight myself into liking the deal, I would craft an argument that went something like this:

The "high character" thing has different definitions in hockey circles. Trouba was made captain for a reason. If guys in the locker room hated him, that wouldn't have happened. He's hated by other teams for his "toughness" on the ice, but hopefully he'll bring some motivation to the locker room.

We gave up virtually nothing. Vaakanainen did not have a future here with what we have on the team and in the pipeline. A 4th round pick is meaningless. Nothing went out the door that was going to be a part of the next good Ducks' team.

Ok, did it work? Do I feel good about this deal? Reader, I do not. But I've gotten myself from a fist-pounding state to a shrugging state. Progress, I guess?

I am not at all convinced either. But I do respect the effort.

 

[mightyquack]

Can't believe we've given up the better defenceman and are on the hook for Troubas contract.

Unreal.

 

[Kalv]

According to Natural Stat Trick, Trouba is 3rd worst in the NHL in shots against per 60 when he’s on the ice at 5on5. The funny part is Fowler is 2nd worst.

I do like the trade and I want us winning but a part of me wants to see how they work as a pairing

Whos the worst?

 

[ScarTroy]

Yeah, the asset was cheap for us but it shouldn’t have been this cheap for NYR.

Depends if Verbeek really wants him. If there was interest from CBJ the alternative was he goes on waivers and they claim him. The Rangers weren’t going to have to pay anyone to take that contract regardless because they knew there was interest from multiple teams.

Edit: I actually didn’t realize CBJ was above us in the standings, disregard the above.

 

[Terry Yake]

Can't believe we've given up the better defenceman and are on the hook for Troubas contract.

Unreal.

vaaks is a 7th d-man

 

[mightyquack]

vaaks is a 7th d-man

Vaaks has played like a top four defenceman pretty much whenever he's played. Better then several of the current Ducks defencemen easily, it was dumb that he didn't stay in the line up when he was healthy

Trouba will make us wish for Bieska back. He's terrible.

 

[TheStuntman]

Can't believe we've given up the better defenceman and are on the hook for Troubas contract.

Unreal.

My thoughts exactly. If the Ducks got the Rangers to take on the cap hit and/or give the Ducks a draft pick, this would be a decent trade. As it stands, this is awful. I can't defend Verbeek on this deal. I don't know which deal is worse, this or the Killorn signing.

 

[Rybread86]

As a hockey deal it's fine. Vaak was a surplus LHD, always hurt, and completely vanilla. Trouba fills a hole although my expectations are very tempered. He'll be another veteran to surround the kids with and hopefully he'll be around next year to give Solberg lessons on the finer points of knocking opponents out.

But I also think that Verbeek rescued the Rangers from a problem and did so too cheaply. I know Trouba is PV's type of player but unless there were other teams willing to offer more, Verbeek did Drury a big favor and got nothing for it. Whatever happened to weaponizing our cap space???

Well, we dont know if he got nothing for it. On paper, no, but Drury could now be more inclined to work with Verbeek in the future. Relationship building is a thing but hard to quantify.

 

[Terry Yake]

Vaaks has played like a top four defenceman pretty much whenever he's played. Better then several of the current Ducks defencemen easily.

Trouba will make us wish for Bieska back.

yeah, i'll have to disagree with that. you can replace vaaks with any D in the system

 

[Kalv]

 

[Dr Johnny Fever]

We also have issues clearing the crease and making other teams think twice about running our young guys. This adds some more grit into our lineup that is sorely needed. It gives us a better balance of physical and skill play.

I think this is the key in a nut shell. If he actually plays solid D (even to a third pair level) while adding the physical aspect then I would see it as a positive. My fear is that most of the opinions out there (not just Ranger fans) are that he is not what he once was and just can't keep up anymore. If that's the case he will be hated here in short order and we will be back to leading the league in taking penalties.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

Vaaks has played like a top four defenceman pretty much whenever he's played. Better then several of the current Ducks defencemen easily, it was dumb that he didn't stay in the line up when he was healthy

Trouba will make us wish for Bieska back. He's terrible.

A top four quality defenseman that has played 5 games this season? Come on lol

 

[Rybread86]

I think this is the key in a nut shell. If he actually plays solid D (even to a third pair level) while adding the physical aspect then I would see it as a positive. My fear is that most of the opinions out there (not just Ranger fans) are that he is not what he once was and just can't keep up anymore. If that's the case he will be hated here in short order and we will be back to leading the league in taking penalties.

Dont disagree. Now we get to sit back and see how this plays out.

As much as I like the trade, I acknowledge this could end up being a bad deal.

 

[quackquackquack]

Totally thought WE were going to be getting a pick BTW

 

[mightyquack]

A top four quality defenseman that has played 5 games this season? Come on lol

I forgot he didn't play last season. Guy is so underrated as a steady defensive defenceman which our system lacks massively right now as well.

 

[Son of Gib]

Exactly. Just when the Ducks are finally starting to get some balanced officiating we will immediately start a new 10 year trend of getting screwed regularly.

It's tradition tho.

 

[quackquackquack]

Dont disagree. Now we get to sit back and see how this plays out.

As much as I like the trade, I acknowledge this could end up being a bad deal.

Again value aside the real damage is adding more depth without trading away. we have guys who deserve to play that will now sit.

 

[Rybread86]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5975003/2024/12/06/rangers-teammates-jacob-trouba?source=user-shared-article

Could only see the headline of teammates loving him. Anything else note worthy?

 

[Leonardo87]

I like this. Finally some more muscle, and whatever he is, he does have some leadership in him. Get Warren and Solberg shadow him at every opportunity, just inform to keep the elbows tight

He has been playing 20+ mins for a good Rangers team for years. They needed a shakeup and sure he has many flaws but I like this for us. @Leonardo87 I will trust your judgement the most tho.

PS
In the 2012 draft, Hampus was surprisingly picked before Trouba.
Eventually we traded Hampus for Vaaks (hello-darkness-my-old-friend.jpg)
We end up tradeing Vaaks for Trouba

Funny circle of events

I mean have to hope he is motivated to prove everyone wrong. Ducks just got a lot more physical and now other teams will think twice about going after the Ducks kids with both Gudas and Trouba in the line up.

 

[MMC]

 

[Rybread86]

Again value aside the real damage is adding more depth without trading away. we have guys who deserve to play that will now sit.

Temporarily. We know they have been looking at trading Fowler. There could be other pieces moving too depending on how this works out

 

[Terry Yake]

can we get @Dirk316 thoughts?

 

[MMC]

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I forgot he didn't play last season

I'm saying that it's incredulous to believe that we have a top four quality defenseman that hasn't been able to crack our line up for more than 5 games this season.