The New York Rangers are making their first move to shake up a flailing roster, and it’s starting with their captain.
Defenseman Jacob Trouba will not be skating with the team Friday morning or playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins later in the day for ‘roster management’ purposes, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, on the condition of anonymity.
It’s clear the Rangers plan to move on from the 30-year-old defenseman, who has been at the center of trade rumors dating to the summer, but it remains to be seen whether that will happen via trade or by placing him on waivers.
The Rangers have recalled defenseman Victor Mancini from Hartford of the American Hockey League to take his place in the lineup.
Trouba is in the final years of a seven-year contract that pays him $8 million annually, with that hefty salary adding a layer of complication to any deal. An acquiring team may need the Rangers to retain a portion of his average annual value to make it work. The Detroit Red Wings − Trouba’s home state team − are one to keep an eye on.
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The Rangers, who have lost six of their last seven games, are willing to facilitate a deal in order to free up additional cap space of their own and sever ties with a player with whom things have grown increasingly tense. His slipping performance hasn’t helped, either, with Trouba consistently one of the Blueshirts’ most-scored-upon defensemen in recent seasons.
He made his strong preference to stay in New York clear when trade talks were heating up over the summer, which multiple people in the league believe scared off some teams. But Rangers team president Chris Drury is now determined to complete the divorce one way or another, with Trouba likely resigned to accept his fate.
Check back for more on this developing story…
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network.