NHL teams looking to bolster their blue line from the back end should give the New York Rangers a call about captain Jacob Trouba.
The Blueshirts reportedly looked at trading Jacob Trouba in the offseason, but nothing ever materialized. Per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, Trouba said there was no “animosity” about the Rangers asking him to supply his no-trade list.
Trouba is signed through the 2025-26 season with a $7 million cap hit. That’s too much money for a one-dimensional rearguard who only slightly makes up for his defensive issues with stellar offensive production.
But if there’s one team that can afford to roll the dice on Jacob Trouba, it’s Connor McDavid and the reigning Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.
Edmonton is off to a disappointing 6-7-1 start this season, largely due to the lack of offense behind McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Edmonton’s usually-productive blue line has combined for only eight goals, with Brett Kulak alone responsible for three of those.
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Edmonton usually has one of the league’s most potent power plays, but it too has been a disappointment thus far. Clearly, they could use an experienced puck-moving and right-handed shot blueliner like Trouba.
The Rangers could use another scoring forward, and the Oilers have plenty of those. Add it all up, and the two powerhouses are perfect trade partners.
What Oilers Should Offer Rangers For Jacob Trouba
The Rangers would have to take back one or two pricey contracts from Edmonton to make the dollars work in a Trouba trade. If New York is truly keen on moving Trouba, a fair trade would see them trade the captain to Edmonton in exchange for forward Evander Kane and blueliner Travis Dermott.
Kane is also signed through 2025-26 with a $5.125 million cap hit, per PuckPedia. Dermott’s $775,000 salary makes the dollars work on both sides, allowing Edmonton to bolster its defense while giving the blueline-rich Rangers another top-six forward.
For Edmonton, adding Trouba gives them a second quality puck-moving blueliner and power play quarterback to complement Evan Bouchard. It’s a move where all parties win.
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