Trouba out to make ‘good memory’ of Rangers debut

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This article was published 02/10/2019 (2167 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — It’s going to be a special night for Jacob Trouba, but maybe not for the reason you might think.

Sure, facing many of his former Winnipeg Jets teammates tonight at Madison Square Garden is a noteworthy event. But the New York Rangers rearguard said his main focus leading up to the regular-season opener for both teams has been on the bigger picture.

“My first game on a new team in New York, I think that’s more what I’ll be thinking about,” Trouba said Wednesday following practice. The Rangers posted video of the media scrum on their social media feeds.

“The Jets thing, that’s just an added piece to it. But for me, I don’t put a whole lot of thought into that,” Trouba said. “The biggest difference is playing against your friends, but I played against my friends before on other teams — that’s not too crazy. Just first game in New York, first game in MSG as a Ranger, is something I’ll always remember, so kinda want a good memory.”

Trouba was traded to the Rangers by the Jets during the off-season for Neal Pionk and the 20th-overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, which Winnipeg used to select Ville Heinola. Pionk and Heinola are both expected to be in the lineup for the Jets.

It was a necessary move, with Trouba one year away from unrestricted free agency and wanting to relocate to a U.S.-based club. The Michigan product cited the fact his fiancée, Kelly Tyson, was studying to become a doctor and had more career opportunities south of the border.

Trouba will be skating on the top pair, just as he did in recent seasons in Winnipeg, but will have Brady Skjei beside him instead of his longtime Jets partner, Josh Morrissey.

“It’s been great. Everybody’s been super welcoming. Learning a couple different things on the ice, systems-wise, that kind of stuff. But the teammates here have been great. They’ve helped me transition pretty easily and helped me get around the city and kind of figure out how everything’s going. I’ve been pretty lucky to have the guys I’ve had here to help me out,” Trouba said.

Trouba and Morrissey remain good friends and share plenty in common — both recently signed long-term extensions. Trouba’s seven-year deal will pay him an average of US$8 million per season, while Morrissey’s eight-year contract is for US$6.25 million annually.

Trouba isn’t the only new face in the revamped Rangers lineup. Forward Artemi Panarin, who signed a seven-year, US$81.5-million free-agent deal on July 1, will be making his Rangers debut, as will forward Kaapo Kakko, the second-overall draft pick this summer. Along with Heinola, that makes two highly touted 18-year-old Finnish skaters in the game.

The Rangers have missed the playoffs two straight seasons and are no doubt counting on some of these changes to give them a much-needed boost.

“I think everybody in here is pretty ready to go. I think we’ve had enough of the practices and the pre-season and are ready to get things started,” Trouba said.

No doubt, a win over his former team would make for a memorable first night on the job.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg