Trouba signs on Jets’ dotted line

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This article was published 07/11/2016 (3247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The impasse between the Winnipeg Jets and Jacob Trouba ended Monday when the 22-year-old defenceman agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the NHL club.

Only time will tell if the deal paves the way to a more harmonious future between the Jets and Trouba, who was a restricted free agent in September when his agent, Kurt Oberhardt, went public with his client’s demand for a trade.

“It’s something we’re very excited to be able to announce today,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said during a conference call with reporters Monday afternoon.

“Obviously, lots of work goes into these kinds of things. Having the opportunity to meet with Jacob (in Detroit on Friday)… His representative and I have had constant dialogue for a long period of time and today we were able to come to terms.”

Trouba’s contract is a bridge deal worth US$2.5 million this season and US$3.5 million in 2017-18. It was not immediately known when he will rejoin the club.

The Rochester, Mich., product did not report to the Jets following his participation at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, citing his desire play on the right side.

The Jets had planned to use the right-handed blue-liner on the left side and maintained from the beginning they were not interested in trading him.

The Jets GM was asked if signing Trouba now makes him easier to trade.

“Jacob Trouba is a Winnipeg Jet,” Cheveldayoff said. “We’re here to announce his signing (and) the excitement that’s there and he gets the opportunity to join his team and get on the ice.”

Cheveldayoff said how the team employs Trouba will be something to be ironed out between the player and head coach Paul Maurice.

Trouba had 21 points (six goals) in 81 games with the Jets last season.

The ninth-overall choice in the 2012 NHL Draft is considered one of the best young blue-liners in the game.

Cheveldayoff said it was incorrect to assume Trouba wanted out of Canada generally and Winnipeg, specifically.

“From the very, onset, Jacob didn’t have a problem playing in Winnipeg and didn’t have a problem playing in Canada,” the GM said.

Cheveldayoff said he hoped the Jets, who have a long injury list that includes veteran blue-liners Tyler Myers and Mark Stuart, would be able to get Trouba into the lineup in short order.

The Jets play host to the Dallas Stars tonight at the MTS Centre.

“We’re just working on flights and the immigration process… We’re hopeful he can he here as soon as (today),” said Cheveldayoff. “He can play a lot of minutes and do a lot of different things from a playing standpoint.”

Trouba and Overhardt were not immediately available for comment Monday.

Overhardt has presided over rancorous negotiations with other NHL teams on behalf of clients such as Kyle Turris, Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Johansen — all of whom were eventually traded after signing with their original teams.

The Trouba deal, many believe, is a prelude to the Jets trading him.

Cheveldayoff sounded opposed to that idea Monday, but didn’t want to discuss the possibility of signing Trouba to a longer-term deal when that window opens July 1.

“Oh, the ink is just drying on this (contract), so let’s just let things play out as it goes,” said Cheveldayoff. “There’s lots of options available from the contractual standpoint.

“Again, the business side of the game will certainly take care of itself. We’re very happy we’ve been able to agree to terms today on a deal that gives us a chance to get Jacob in the lineup. Can’t emphasis how exciting it is to be able to say that.”

Cheveldayoff was asked to characterize his relationship with Overhardt.

“Very professional,” he said. “This is a business we chose to make our living in and certainly, from my standpoint, it’s not the first deal and it’s not the last deal Kurt and I are going to do together.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14