It was a tough day for the Rangers today as Jacob Trouba's absence was lingering over the team.
Jacob Trouba’s tenure with the New York Rangers is officially over.
The Rangers have traded Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
It’s a tough day for the Rangers as the team is not only losing a defenseman, but also their captain, which will change the dynamics of the locker room.
“We love him to death,” Mika Zibanejad said. “I can’t say it’s not tough,”
Trouba was named captain of the Rangers during the summer of 2022 and he arrived to New York in 2019.
He’s been a staple of the team’s leadership core for years as players both admire and respect him.
“I can’t say enough about (Trouba) and what he’s meant to this team and this locker room overall," Jonathan Quick said via The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "He’s a great person, great teammate, great captain. Wishing him the best with dealing with all this stuff.”
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette spoke in a more somber tone following Friday’s practice with the weight of everything going on with Trouba clearly impacting him.
“There's always a human side to everything in life, right? He's a good person and a good player and a good leader,” Laviolette said.
The 30-year-old served as a mentor for the younger players on the team. He really led vocally and by example.
“He’s an unbelievable dude,” Braden Schneider said. “I’ve looked up to him, I’ve tried to emulate my game after him and he’s been a huge help for me to grow here as a player.”
Trouba’s presence will certainly be missed in the locker room and other veteran players will be forced to step up in his absence.