Rangers captain Jacob Trouba reportedly a trade candidate this summer

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Cooper Godin
June 27, 2024 (9:50)

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The New York Rangers could be without a captain in the coming weeks as they look to off-load some salary this summer.

For the second time in the last three years, the Rangers saw their season come to an end in the Eastern Conference Final and they may be looking to make a big splash this summer in order to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2014.

One avenue the Rangers are reportedly exploring is trading away their captain, Jacob Trouba, who has spent the last five seasons in New York. Whether it's Trouba who's shown the door this summer or someone else on the blueline, it looks like the Rangers are trying to change their defensive group for the 2024-25 campaign.

On Wednesday's edition of The Chris Johnston Show said that he's heard the New York Rangers are looking to trade a defenceman and that Jacob Trouba may be the odd man out.

"I've heard #NYR are trying to move a defenseman ... a lot of talk that Jacob Trouba could be the odd man out there." Johnston said."

Johnston added on his podcast that the main reason being for potentially moving on from Jacob Trouba is that he's too expensive for a third pairing defenceman, earning $8 million for each of the next two seasons. Trading Trouba also gets quite a bit easier starting next Monday when his full no-movement clause turns into a modified no-trade clause.

"CJ notes that it's "not because he's disliked or anything," but notes that he's simply too expensive to be a third-pairing defenseman and his NMC becomes a 15-team NTC on July 1st. Says "that's something to keep an eye on." #NYR"

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff added Jacob Trouba to his Trade Targets board on Wednesday and wondered if playing for the team in his home state, the Detroit Red Wings, could be a possibility.

"The Rangers are exploring all of their options this summer as GM Chris Drury remains as aggressive as ever trying to get New York over the hump. One of those options is potentially moving his captain. Trouba also just happens to be dropping down from a full �no-movement' clause to a 15-team �no-trade' list starting on Monday. Trouba has positive trade equity, despite the cap hit, because the term is so short with two years remaining. Teams crave his intensity, leadership and physicality. Are the Detroit Red Wings, looking to upgrade their blueline, a viable option for the Michigan native?" Seravalli said.

Trouba, 30, appeared in 69 games this season for the Rangers where he registered 22 points (three goals, 19 assists), 73 penalty minutes and was a minus-four. He went on to add seven points in 16 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The New York Rangers are going to be an interesting team to watch in the coming days and weeks as they look to make some additions to their roster that they're hoping will get them over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final next season.