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

[RogerRogerr]

The Ducks' GM misunderstood people when they said he needed to weaponized his cap space.

 

[Andrei79]

NY traded for Trouba knowing he wanted to be there for family reasons and he asked a NTC clause for the same reasons. He's a dad and clearly values his wife. Criticize him for his bad play, but criticizing him because he valued his family and his wife's career is an utterly brain dead and moronic take.

NY had to move on and they did well in that regard, but Drury seems like he has no finesse.

 

[PhilJets]

What happened to Trouba in New York? ( Jets fan here)

Is it

• His Ego
• His talent dropped off
• His the odd man out from all the high price talent they have and they need to sign their goalie?

Man him and Josh Morrissey did make a good partner (Team) before.

 

[MMC]

30 pages of people crying about what they think Trouba’s value “should have been” as if it means literally anything lmao. If McDonald’s is selling Big Macs for $6 and people are willing to pay it, it doesn’t matter if you personally think they’re only worth $3. You can either pay the $6 or not get a Big Mac

 

[Eggtimers]

The Ducks will be nowhere near the cap ceiling this year or next. So an AAV of 8m really doesn't matter. He makes less money than Fowler, so if they trade Cam they save actual money even if their cap total goes up a bit, but again that's largely irrelevant for them (except in helping them reach the cap floor more easily next year than if they just keep Fowler).

The Ducks don't need to worry about budgeting for the cap for several more years, at which time most of their biggest current salaries will be expired or expiring.



I wouldn't say that. He's a serviceable 3rd pairing guy, and that's pretty much what his salary is in line with. He's nothing special, sure, but he can hold down an NHL spot in a non-embarrassing if mostly anonymous fashion.

Ya the Ducks had cap room but I wouldn’t say “ doesn’t matter “ There are ways to weaponize cap space. Thus wasn’t one of the ways. Cap room is an asset. They didn’t utilize that asset in a good way IMO

 

[FiveTacos]

I'm talking about moves like for example NJD going and getting 25 year old John Marino, or 26 year old Ryan graves. Guys who have had success, but are still potentially on the way up, not the way down.
NJD for example built a quality dcore from virtually nothing before the prospects had arrived.

Went out and got a hamilton while being shit.
Went and grabbed marino while being shit
Went and grabbed graves while being shit
Went and grabbed siegs while being shit.

And that's what helped take them out of the basement when they had a quality goalie season for once.

None of that would have meant diddly squat if not for the fact that they had two legit high scoring young Cs break out.

I'm sorry, but the low key moves aren't what turns a team around. They're necessary ... but without the blossoming of the core guys it just means you have a scrappy team that still sucks.

You don't need to take every cap dump.

But there are a lot more teams looking to clear cap than actually do. They don't because the cost is too prohibitive. (eg Oilers ending up buying out campbell).

But if you're gonna take on bad cap like trouba and not even get picks, why not undercut other teams in the pure dump market like campbell?

What undercut is there to be had if other teams were supposedly in on the guy? Perhaps the demand wasn't as soft as you think.

I 100% respect not taking on cap dumps. But if you're gonna not take pure cap dumps, don't trade for shit contracts and pay for the privledge

6m isn't great, but it's not godawful, at least with such short term left. It certainly doesn't HURT the Ducks in any way, nor prevent them from doing anything further. Or are you just pissed the Rangers got out of it?

If the window to start competing is another half decade down the line sure. And it doesn't mean you can't make good moves in the meantime

It's hard to say ... we don't know when guys will break out or if they ever will. But that's the #1 requirement for a team to dig its way out of the cellar. Make all the good little moves you want, but without breakout stars to back it up, it's all for naught.

Nobody said it was a piece of cake.

But it isn't some ridiculous expectation to expect a GM to effectively make trades and signings.

This is a bad trade.

To me a bad trade is when you give up something good for something bad. The Ducks really gave up nothing of consequence, and even if Trouba sucks they're off the hook in a year, at a point where cap isn't a factor for them.

 

[Mike C]

NY traded for Trouba knowing he wanted to be there for family reasons and he asked a NTC clause for the same reasons. He's a dad and clearly values his wife. Criticize him for his bad play, but criticizing him because he valued his family and his wife's career is an utterly brain dead and moronic take.

NY had to move on and they did well in that regard, but Drury seems like he has no finesse.

Peter Zezel retired when he requested a deal to the east coast to be near a cancer stricken relative and got sent to Anaheim


Drury asked Trouba to approve deal to east coast. Trouba held him hostage and said no. This is a business and business is simply an exchange of time for money. Feelings should never enter in, especially when big money is in play

Many dad's quit their jobs to take care of their kids if the situation warrants

 

[bandwagonesque]

I just remember when Redden was sent down. Wasn’t the exact reason to bury his entire contract? Did they change it after that?

Yes, it's known colloquially as the Wade Redden Rule.

 

[dgibb10]

None of that would have meant diddly squat if not for the fact that they had two legit high scoring young Cs break out.

I'm sorry, but the low key moves aren't what turns a team around. They're necessary ... but without the blossoming of the core guys it just means you have a scrappy team that still sucks.

Yes, but if they didn't build a quality dcore, it wouldn't have mattered.

That 22-23 devils team was not that stacked as a forward group. At least before adding Meier.

making good, smart moves allowed them to take advantage when the time came.

What undercut is there to be had if other teams were supposedly in on the guy? Perhaps the demand wasn't as soft as you think.

You have misunderstood this completely.

I am saying that, if you want to say cap space and money is meaningless, be a cheaper destination for actual cap dumps.

Take on Jack Campbell for slightly less than the 2 1sts that teams were asking.

Take on walman for a 3rd, etc etc.

Don't pay for Jacob trouba

6m isn't great, but it's not godawful, at least with such short term left. It certainly doesn't HURT the Ducks in any way, nor prevent them from doing anything further. Or are you just pissed the Rangers got out of it?

The only reason it "doesn't prevent you" is because your GM has failed to convince any free agents to come. The fact that Verbeek sucks in UFA doesn't make trading for a bad and overpaid player less of a bad decision.

It's hard to say ... we don't know when guys will break out or if they ever will. But that's the #1 requirement for a team to dig its way out of the cellar. Make all the good little moves you want, but without breakout stars to back it up, it's all for naught.

And if you don't make the little moves, it doesn't matter if your stars break out.

To me a bad trade is when you give up something good for something bad. The Ducks really gave up nothing of consequence, and even if Trouba sucks they're off the hook in a year, at a point where cap isn't a factor for them.

They gave up 16 million dollars in cap space and 11 million dollars in real money. That is value that could have been better used elsewhere. Just because they weren't previously using it (bad decision to have not taken advantage previously), doesn't make a bad trade a good one.

You can pretend cap isn't a factor, but if so, why didn't they spend money before now?

Why didn't they go and get and short term UFAs?

Heck, why not offer 10 mill x 2 years to some actually quality dmen or forwards much better than trouba if cap doesn't matter?

 

[FiveTacos]

Yes, but if they didn't build a quality dcore, it wouldn't have mattered.

Of course, you need it all. But the harder part is having the guys become stars ... and to a large extent that's out of your control.

That 22-23 devils team was not that stacked as a forward group. At least before adding Meier.

That's the thing, you don't have to be stacked if you have a couple guys break out.

You have misunderstood this completely.

I am saying that, if you want to say cap space and money is meaningless, be a cheaper destination for actual cap dumps.

Take on Jack Campbell for slightly less than the 2 1sts that teams were asking.

I wouldn't take on Campbell at 3+ years for less than that. Why the hell would anyone? And obviously, no one did.

Take on walman for a 3rd, etc etc.

That's fine, but the Ducks certainly did just fine accumulating picks, they didn't need to take on cap dumps to get more.

Don't pay for Jacob trouba

Really just comes down to you think he sucks and should have required drastic cap dump attachment to move so that they could have some financial freedom. Which is fine. But the Ducks are in a much different position in which his contract is not really hindering anything ... the term ends before they need to pay their young guys big money, the real money is less than what they're paying the likely departing Fowler, and the cap number has no impact on their ability to go after anyone else that might come up.

The only reason it "doesn't prevent you" is because your GM has failed to convince any free agents to come. The fact that Verbeek sucks in UFA doesn't make trading for a bad and overpaid player less of a bad decision.

Honestly, the only way anyone signs with Anaheim when they were as bad as the last two years was by overpaying or giving extra term. There's no bargains for a team like that.

And if you don't make the little moves, it doesn't matter if your stars break out.

If your stars break out, your little moves tend to be made to look better than they are. And when they don't, your little moves tend to be inconsequential.

They gave up 16 million dollars in cap space and 11 million dollars in real money. That is value that could have been better used elsewhere.

You make it sound like they're up against the cap. You really think impact guys are coming? Probably not. Mid guys weren't gonna change their fate this year. You keep doing that and guys don't break out, you end up not like NJ, but Det.

You can pretend cap isn't a factor, but if so, why didn't they spend money before now?

It does not make sense for most bottom feeders to go nuts on expensive players, unless it's long term on a star player. But those don't pop up often, and when they do, are they gonna go to a team in the running for the 1OA pick?

Heck, why not offer 10 mill x 2 years to some actually quality dmen or forwards much better than trouba if cap doesn't matter?

They apparently did make big offers, but teams that finish bottom 3 twice in a row aren't going to convince many players.

 

[Ciao]

Some ultra-long comments here, TL-DNR.

No sympathy for Trouba and his crocodile tears. It's a business and he knows that. He plays hard and fast on his contract rights when it suits him, and he shouldn't be surprised or disappointed when his employer does the same.

 

[SillyRabbit]

So the Ducks failed to use their cap space to actually acquire young assets or draft picks.

And they picked up an almost 31-year old player that won't help them become a playoff team, but might possibly help them avoid the #1 pick in the draft.

That's quite the rebuild they got going on over there.

 

[MMC]

So the Ducks failed to use their cap space to actually acquire young assets or draft picks.

And they picked up an almost 31-year old player that won't help them become a playoff team, but might possibly help them avoid the #1 pick in the draft.

That's quite the rebuild they got going on over there.

Funny when it’s considered better to take on other team’s junk that likely won’t help you rather than players you actually want to build your team around

 

[Petes2424]

Told again tonight… Back in the summer, and again over the last few days, Jacob Trouba was NEVER approached about waiving his protection to be traded to Detroit.

They were on a list of teams the Rangers had told his agent were interested. As far as he knows, that’s as far as it ever got. Columbus was a team his agent told him was willing to make a deal, but that never came to be, over his final 24 hours as a NYR.

That list of teams going around, were the teams he was told had interest, but he was under the impression he would have somewhat of a choice.

That never happened. He was told yesterday morning, he basically had 24 hours, to agree to go to Anaheim, or he’d be waived.

So he basically started coming to terms with that, rather than his agent chasing down another deal, the Rangers would agree to. There really just wasn’t the time to find another deal in 24 hrs, and Anaheim was one of the teams he preferred anyway.

Those in the media who tried to imply he was given a few different options, twisted the info, or leaked what the Rangers were telling them, to drive more interest. He was never given a choice. They never said, pick one of Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, Buffalo or Anaheim. They came to him with the Anaheim deal, pretty quickly after the list was shared.

In the summer, he was approached to “open up his NMC” as a whole, and provide a list of teams he’d go to. He never provided that list and used his NMC. After July 1, when his clause changed, he wasn’t approached at all again, until recently, when he was told, “a handful of teams were interested”, and led to believe there would be those options.

In the end though, he was only ever asked specifically about Anaheim. That was yesterday morning. He was told to accept or he’d go on waivers tomorrow..

He had come to terms that he was gonna be moved, and had been waiting for these so-called options, and only Anaheim came to be. So of course he was going to accept. As I said earlier today, if he didn’t, and ended up in Anaheim from waivers, it would’ve made things awkward walking into that locker room. Hockey players also have this inner loyalty to teams who they feel “want” them. It’s always nice to feel wanted.

So not sure where Weekes is getting his information regarding DET. Maybe the Rangers told him Detroit was one of the teams, but it never got to the point of Trouba being approached, as media was telling folks. He was only specifically ever asked, to waive to Anaheim or be put on waivers.

He has no reason to lie about it. His reaction when asked by Weeke’s was as sincere as it gets, when he said, “Sure it would’ve been nice but maybe someone should’ve asked Detroit about that.” When Weekes said he did, he again led people to believe there was something there. Trouba can only go off of the facts. He’s never been approached to waive his protection, to go to Detroit.

That all doesn’t mean Columbus, Detroit, Ottawa and others didn’t talk to the Rangers. It does mean, those discussions never reached the point of those teams agreeing to a trade, and Trouba being asked for his approval. I’m told he was a little disappointed nothing transpired, but in his mind, he wasn’t mad about it being Anaheim. Not at all. They were one of the teams he actually preferred.

As for Anaheim taking his entire salary, it’s only a couple million more than Fowler’s, who’s actually part of this story now, as he’s likely leaving Anaheim pretty quickly, due to this deal.

Anaheim can take some bad deals right now. People get all crazy on here about the contracts on rebuilding teams, but they aren’t as important to the teams themselves, because they have so many ELCs, etc. Trouba won’t be making $8 million on the Ducks, when they’re getting ready to compete and handing big deals to their young players.

Anaheim is a great place to play btw. He could’ve been forced to go to a lot worse situations.

As of right now, he fully expects to finish his contract in Anaheim. Whether that changes, who knows.

Chris Kreider, come on down sir. You’re likely next to get hosed by the Rangers.

Fans shouldn’t think for one second, that what they’ve now done to 2 players, won’t effect future deals. Guys are gonna point blank, demand a NMC.

 

[Elvs]

Ya the Ducks had cap room but I wouldn’t say “ doesn’t matter “ There are ways to weaponize cap space. Thus wasn’t one of the ways. Cap room is an asset. They didn’t utilize that asset in a good way IMO

I don't get the critique. This move isn't about space, it's about staying over the floor.

Fowler and Dumoulin are by all accounts being traded this season. That leaves Gudas making $4 mil and a bunch of kids making $845-925k.

Meanwhile, the Ducks are in no position to trade future assets. But Vaakanainen, as much as a I like him, and a 4th round pick, are hardly that.

The Ducks pick up a bad contract with Trouba, but it expires the same time as LaCombes, Mintyukovs and Zellwegers deals are up. It's perfect.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't get the critique. This move isn't about space, it's about staying over the floor.

View attachment 941284

Fowler and Dumoulin are by all accounts being traded this season. That leaves Gudas making $4 mil and a bunch of kids making $845-925k.

Meanwhile, the Ducks are in no position to trade future assets. But Vaakanainen, as much as a I like him, and a 4th round pick, are hardly that.

The Ducks pick up a bad contract with Trouba, but it expires the same time as LaCombes, Mintyukovs and Zellwegers deals are up. It's perfect.

This post is how I learned that it's Olen Zellweger and not Owen Zellweger.

 

[Leaf Fans]

every since Toronto sent Carolina a 1st to take old man Marleau

Yeah, you would either have to have a signing bounus on an +35 contract due or be really desperate or both.

 

[BMOK33]

Peter Zezel retired when he requested a deal to the east coast to be near a cancer stricken relative and got sent to Anaheim


Drury asked Trouba to approve deal to east coast. Trouba held him hostage and said no. This is a business and business is simply an exchange of time for money. Feelings should never enter in, especially when big money is in play

Many dad's quit their jobs to take care of their kids if the situation warrants

At the end of the day he’s gonna retire in 5/6 years at worst. She’s probably 27 and will work for 25-30 more years. To me they could have dealt with a few years of living somewhere semi undesirable til he retired. I’m still confused with the money he made why she needs to work anyway. Once he signed that contract if I was his wife I’d say goodbye to that career and say I’m staying at home and raising our children

 

[gary559]

This is a horrible deal for Anaheim.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I'm not mad. I'm not crying. Perhaps you should be more open to opinions that you don't agree with?

You were upset enough to curse out the guy's wife, pretty pathetic response in my opinion..

 

[GAGLine]

Guys are gonna point blank, demand a NMC.

So what? The Panarins of the world will get one regardless and the Goodrows won't. Players can demand an NMC all they want, but they don't have much leverage if no other team is willing to give them one.

The Rangers didn't break any rules. The same rules that kept the Rangers from trading Trouba in the summer enabled them to trade him yesterday. If the players are upset the way it went down, maybe they should do some soul searching to understand why it played out that way.

 

[Andrei79]

Peter Zezel retired when he requested a deal to the east coast to be near a cancer stricken relative and got sent to Anaheim


Drury asked Trouba to approve deal to east coast. Trouba held him hostage and said no. This is a business and business is simply an exchange of time for money. Feelings should never enter in, especially when big money is in play

Many dad's quit their jobs to take care of their kids if the situation warrants

This is what I meant by brain dead takes.

 

[AlexModvechkin8]

Hey - what the f*** Anaheim, why did you do this?

Signed,
The other seven Metro division teams

 

[elmaco]

I have no sympathy for Trouba. Held out in 2016 stating he didn't want to play for the Jets, held Chevy at gunpoint to trade him specifically to the Rangers (Pittsburgh had a better deal apparently) and was a jerk to fans when he played in Winnipeg.

If people say I'm a liar he pretty much rejected going to Columbus.

I also remember the hype around him, and now he sucks, at 30.

 

[Leafshater67]

It’s almost kind of unbelievable how badly the rangers spit in the face of their captain.

And ok, they get rid of Trouba for being a couple million overpaid.. then what? They sign Igor to a 11m / 8y and repeat the cycle but with a hole at 2nd pair RD? Brilliant.

Free agents are going to be weary of going to New York after what they did to Goodrow and what they just did to their own captain. I get it that it’s a business but this one seemed pretty extreme and for what? Not much. The rangers are a mess