ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks have traded for veteran defenseman Jacob Trouba from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick.
Trouba, the now-former captain of the Rangers, is a right-hand shot defenseman, which is a highly valued position in the NHL, and has a reputation of physical play, occasionally borderline.
My goodness this Jacob Trouba hit on Justin Barron 😳 pic.twitter.com/iVApHXBMy2
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 23, 2024
“Jacob is a highly respected player in this league whose character and leadership qualities on and off the ice are second to none,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “We believe Jacob has many more years in this league and hope he is a big part of our future success. It’s rare you are able to acquire a player with Jacob’s experience, stature and ability. On the ice he competes every shift, leads by example and is a presence on the blue line every night.”
With Cam Fowler returning to the lineup against Vegas on Wednesday, the Ducks had a logjam at the blueline with young riser Pavel Mintyukov having to sit as a healthy scratch. With Trouba, the Ducks now have eight healthy and capable defenseman for six starting spots.
Trouba has six assists with a -3 rating this season, and at five-on-five, he posted a 45.35% shot share and 47.45% expected goals for share, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The 30-year-old defenseman is in the sixth year of a seven-year contract at $8 million with a full no-move clause. Trouba had a 15-team no-trade list in his contract, according to PuckPedia.
During training camp, there were rumours abound that Trouba used his no-move clause to block a trade to support the career of his wife, Dr. Kelly Tyson-Trouba, who had a medical residency at a New York hospital. Trouba had previously cited that career in accepting a 2019 trade from Winnipeg to the Rangers
"There's a lot of things that were said and snowballed," Trouba told the New York media during training camp. "I love living here. I love New York. My family loves it here, as everybody is now aware of," he said. "I'm happy to be here."
Anaheim has over $20.7 million in salary cap space, taking on the full weight of Trouba's deal. The Ducks have the third-most salary cap space in the NHL.
Urho Vaakanainen is currently on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, but he took to the ice for morning skate on Friday in Anaheim ahead of the Ducks’ match-up with the Minnesota Wild. Vaakanainen has missed the last nine games due to the injury.
Vaakanainen was acquired by Anaheim from Boston in the 2022 Hampus Lindholm trade. He has played 141 games in parts of four seasons with the Ducks recording one goal and 24 assists with a -23 rating.
Trevor Zegras immediately waved at the bench after he went down. Not what the Ducks need to see at this point (or any point).@SportingTrib | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/GADrsRXNzi
— Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) December 5, 2024
Morning Skate Updates:
Trevor Zegras is still being evaluated, according to Ducks coach Greg Cronin, following a lower-body injury against Vegas on Wednesday. The Ducks did not practice on Thursday and go to Canada for a weeklong road trip on Saturday.
Zegras missed 51 games last season for two separate lower-body injuries, including a broken ankle. Zegras has scored four goals and added six assists with a -7 rating in 24 games this season.
Forward Brock McGinn will return to the Ducks line-up tonight after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.
Forward Leo Carlsson skated with the Ducks in a red non-contact jersey at the morning skate on Friday. Carlsson has missed four games with an upper-body injury.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game.