Trouba settling in with Ducks

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This article was published 02/01/2025 (253 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When you consider what he’s been through during the past several months, you can understand why Jacob Trouba didn’t want to delve too deeply into the details of getting traded from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks.

The former Winnipeg Jets defenceman found himself in the middle of a firestorm last month as things were falling off the rails with the Rangers, which led to him being shipped to the Ducks.

This wasn’t an everyday, ordinary move either.

Given the modified no-trade clause in his contract, Trouba, who was captain of the Blueshirts, had to consider several options while running the risk of being placed on waivers and losing control of the situation.

“It was different. Obviously it happened very fast,” said Trouba, who is in Winnipeg to face the Jets on Thursday. “There were a lot of teams I didn’t really know, it just kind of came out of nowhere. So it was kind of a scramble and it wasn’t really like (he got to) weigh every single option as much as you can.

“It was kind of (trying to) find something that worked. Obviously, this was a good situation for me to come into, so I’m excited to join this group.”

Trouba knows the business side of hockey brings its own challenges, so he casually brushed aside a question asking how difficult that was for him to deal with.

“Not crazy hard. I just understood the whole thing and it is what it is. That’s pro sports,” said Trouba. “I’m not going to sulk and cry about it. I’m happy to be here. Any day kind of in this league to be around a group like this and play hockey is pretty cool. So I’m not too, life goes on.”

Trouba was reflective when asked about his time with the Rangers on Thursday.

“I haven’t taken the time to look back too far. It’s kind of a quick switch and focus on new things,” said Trouba, who was dealt to the Rangers by the Jets in the summer of 2019 for Neal Pionk and a first-round pick that turned into Ville Heinola.

“But I mean, it was an awesome five years, obviously accomplished some things, didn’t accomplish everything. How it went down leaving, it is what it is. I’ve kind of moved past it. I’ll deal with it later, if there’s anything to deal with. I’m happy to be here.”

The situation couldn’t be much more different, with Trouba leaving a Rangers team that made it to the Eastern Conference final last spring and had legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations despite a tough start for a Ducks team in the middle of a rebuild.

“Yeah, it’s different stages of the organization, I would say,” said Trouba. “Obviously, New York was obviously trying to win and we were competing the last couple of years. Here’s it’s a younger team, kind of the situation I came into originally in New York. With some younger guys kind of building towards being really a better team that can contend to win every year. That’s obviously the path we want to be on.”

Thursday is Trouba’s 12th game since joining the Ducks and he seems to be settling in.

“I’m getting more comfortable around the group,” said Trouba. “Obviously it takes more than a couple of days to kind of get fully settled in.”

This was an unexpected development in Trouba’s career. He started out with the Jets, who chose him ninth overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, an Original Six franchise in the Rangers and now the Ducks, who brought a Stanley Cup to southern California in 2007.

“I’ve seen a lot of different markets,” said Trouba. “Obviously very different. But I don’t know, checking out everything. Everything North America’s got to offer, I guess.”

Trouba’s wife Kelly — who is finishing up her medical residency in June — and son remain in New York, at least for the time being, which is part of the challenge of adjusting.

“Obviously it was tough. But I think we’ve got a pretty good road map forward I think, with me and the family,” said Trouba. “Got home for Christmas. Not seeing (my son) is probably the hardest part, obviously. But we’ll do a good enough job at least trying to see him every couple of weeks.”

For those wondering, Trouba doesn’t find himself having to bite his tongue now that he’s not wearing a letter with his new team.

“No, I don’t think it really works too much like that,” said Trouba. “Obviously, you’re a little more reserved. You’ve got to learn the players. Obviously they’ve got to trust you and that comes with time. You’re not walking in a leader. You can be yourself and always carry yourself how you carry yourself. It obviously takes some time to build the relationships that come with leadership.”

Ducks head coach Greg Cronin has been impressed by what Trouba has brought to the table — and he’s not just talking about his physical play either, though that ability to throw crushing open ice hits has also been apparent.

“Obviously he’s got a violent image,” said Cronin.

“He’s always shown on the highlights blowing people up on hits. And we’ve seen a little bit of that. But what has surprised me is he’s actually really efficient with the puck. He moves the puck well. He’s got a pretty good offensive IQ on the ice, which you don’t really connect with a guy that’s a physical defender.”

When you have a defensive corps that includes Trouba and Ducks captain Radko Gudas, it’s easy to understand that an important part of their jobs is to play a mentorship role, showing the ropes to a group of youngsters how to be a good professional.

“It’s not always a straight path, obviously,” said Trouba. “Just try to help as much as I can. Don’t push myself on anyone, I guess, but know that I’m a resource if anybody has questions or wants to talk, hopefully they know that I’m obviously open to that and want to help out wherever I can.”

As for the opportunity to return to where it all began, Trouba enjoys playing in Winnipeg, though it doesn’t bring up the same emotions as it once did.

“Yeah, it does seem like a long time ago now. Obviously good to see some old buddies,” said Trouba, who connected with Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Adam Lowry on Wednesday. “It’s not that it’s lost its lustre, it’s just that as time has gone by, it’s kind of developed as it has. Two teams later, it’s not as much of a thing.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld