Jacob Trouba is looking for a place to happen. He's making stops along the way.
The young American defender's forward progress has been thwarted in his professional hockey playing life. Trouba has been embroiled in a sticky contract dispute with the Winnipeg Jets. Trouba became a restricted free agent in July and since then, there has been very little progress made on his new contract. Like several other high profile NHL RFAs competing at The World Cup--we see you Rasmus Ristoleinen, Johnny Gaudreau, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Kucherov, Dmitry Orlov--Trouba joined his World Cup team to playtake a break from the number crunching and to play high level hockey. Any pro athlete will tell you that its best to escape the consternation and frustration of the contract negotiations, which tends to take a mental toll on young players.
Since joining Team North America for training camp two weeks ago, Trouba cannot get on the ice to prove that he belongs and to play a leadership role for the gratuitously talented Team North America at The World Cup of Hockey, which opens in Toronto later this afternoon. Head coach Todd McLellan has made Trouba a healthy scratch for two of the three exhibition games played. Trouba will likely ride the pine again when Team North America opens it's World Cup schedule on Sunday with a game against his new Jets teammate, Patrik Laine, the pesky Finns.
Is there a chance that Trouba can holdout for a new contract at the conclusion of the World Cup of Hockey? Yes, it's a real possibility. Is it possible that the Jets and his agent will finalize a new pact once the World Cup of Hockey ends on October 1 or sooner? Yes. That could happen, too.Is there a chance that his contract negotiations hit the point of no return and he is traded to another NHL team? Yes, that is an option as well.
For now, Trouba is stuck in limbo.
Trouba was asked by the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this week if there is any doubt that he will play in the Winnipeg Jets lineup when they open their regular season next month?
"Not in my mind," Trouba said.
Is Trouba confident that his agent will get him the desired deal from Winnipeg that he wishes to sign? Or, is Trouba inferring that he wants to remain a Winnipeg Jet while the team management despite the team's luke warm feelings toward re-signing him to a new contract?
The Jets refuse to negotiate contracts with their players in the media. It's not their modus operandi. There has been very little news regarding the Trouba negotiation since July.
Trouba has told Jets management and his agent that he wants no part of contract talks while he is competing at the World Cup tournament.
"I’m not too into the contract stuff right now," said Trouba. "I’m here focused on this team and I will let my agent deal with that. And once this tournament is over, we’ll figure that out."
Trouba said that despite his absence from the contract talks, his agent and Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff have open lines of communication.
"They’re dealing with it. Kurt’s talking to Chevy. They’re going back and forth and talking," said Trouba.
"I told them, ‘Leave me out of it for a little while. I’m here focused on this.’ And if there’s anything important, I’m sure he will let me know."
Sounds like a similar strategy being employed other by high profile restricted free agents Gaudreau, Ristolainen, Lindholm and Kucherov.
Keep talking while I'm at the World Cup. Call me if you get a deal finalized.
It's September 17 and the World Cup of Hockey will end on October 1 at the very latest.
It's a small window to negotiate a contract in from October 1 to October 13.
What is Trouba's true worth on the RFA market? Has it been determined yet? Who are Trouba's comparables?
It seems to me that Trouba places a higher value on his ability that the Jets are willing to invest in. In other words, Trouba is looking for max average annual value and max while the Jets want to continue to test drive before they buy. There have been reports that the Jets want to sign Trouba to a two-year bridge contract so that he can show the club what he is really worth. To which Trouba's declines and counters with a long term contract.
There were reports last Christmas that Trouba was demanding from the Jets a new contract in the $7M AAV range with a maximum eight year term.
Is the 22 year old worthy of a $56 million contract extension?
It's hard to bargain for those dollars and term when you can't crack the top six D group on a U-24 all star squad like Team North America. One questions why Team North America selected Trouba to be in their 7-man corps. Have they gotten turned of to his game in the past two weeks after scouting him all of last season? If McLellan was hellbent on sitting Trouba from Day 1, then why didn't he select Jake McCabe from the Buffalo Sabres to be the seventh D? In other words, Trouba's body of hockey work pedigree earned him his selection to Team North America. Are his attitude or work ethic, or a combination of both, the reason why he is watching from the press box? He isn't injured. Is his ego bruised? Is he not answering the"sing for your supper" challenge that McLellan is presenting him with?
Trouba and his agent are not doubt drafting off Ristolainen and Lindholm, who are expected to re-sign for $6 million to $6.5 million over a seven year term. Ristolainen and Lindholm have demonstrated their true value and are expected to sign their new contracts when the World Cup closing ceremonies fade to black.
What about Trouba? Is he worthy of a contract in the $42 million to $56 million range?
I, like many observers vote “No”.
Trouba is a very good hockey player. He has all the raw materials to be a star in the NHL in the not too distant future. However, he has bide his time. He's not ready to be paid like a rock star yet.
Where does Trouba rank in the pantheon of very good to great young NHL defenders?
Penguins rear guard Olli Maatta signed for $4.1 million AAV times six seasons.
Red Wings D Danny DeKeyser recently signed for $5M AAV over six seasons.
Maple Leafs D Morgan Rielly signed for $30 million over six years, and a $5M AAV.
Blue Jackets D Seth Jones signed for six years and $32.4 million ($5.4M AAV).
Avalanche D Tyson Barrie signed for $22 million over 4 seasons or a $5.5M AAV.
Flames D Dougie Hamilton signed a deal last year that pays him $5.75M AAV over six years.
Is Trouba worth Maata money? Has he earned Hamilton money? Is he in the Ristolainen and Lindholm echelon?
I see Trouba more in the DeKeyser/Rielly ilk, which is nothing to sneeze at.
The aforementioned young D-men play in all phases of the game and are integral cogs to the success of their teams. They play 5v5, PP, and PK. Many of them are on the ice at the end of games against the other team's top line. All play fat TOI.
Can Trouba say the same of his game?
His offensive production has declined in each of the past two seasons.He had 29 points in his rookie season then 22, and 21 respectively. In 81 games played, Trouba scored five goals and added 16 assists; 15 of his points were at 5v5. The Jets needed more offense from Trouba last season and he didn't deliver. To his credit, Trouba's defensive game has improved, but it has come at the expense of his offensive game. In 2015-16, Trouba enjoyed career highs in hits (144) and blocked shots (177). He also worked hard to reduce his number of giveaways. His time on ice declined by a full minute last season. Trouba cannot be happy about that.
The Jets want the best of both worlds: They want Trouba to score 50 points while keeping the puck out of their own net.
Trouba is a work in progress. His stock is on the rise. He must be patient.
One day soon he will be the total package defender that the Jets so badly need right now. Until then, he's going to have to sign a “show” me two-year deal.
The matter of “fit” is a source of frustration for Trouba, who sees him as a top four, right side D.
Not so fast. Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are the two right shot D on the Jets roster. Trouba has learned to live with playing on the Jets third pairing with Mark Stuart or on the left side with Dustin Byfuglien. It's not his first choice, but it is the only way he can get on the ice. For now.
Paul Maurice's refusal to use Trouba on the power play really hurts Trouba's scoring.
"I want to have a bigger role," said Trouba. "I want to be a force... more productive offensively and defensively.
"I just want to be more involved and take my game to the next level."
Trouba knows what side his bread is buttered on. He's sacrificing for his team by playing the left side.
"I’ve played the right-side my whole life," said Trouba. "I’m obviously more comfortable there. But I understand you have to do what’s best for your team."
I think what Trouba is saying is: "Make it worth my while to play the left side. Show me the money".
If Trouba cannot reach an agreement with the Jets, he may end up holding out of the truncated NHL training camp.
Who knows. He may find what he's looking for outside of Winnipeg. I do know that there are several NHL teams who are keeping close tabs on the Trouba matter in Winnipeg.
The Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins are at the top of that list.
Tim Murray has been patiently trolling the high seas in search of another trophy fish to add to his growing collection.
Murray is looking to add another top four D to add to his group that already includes Rasmus Ristolainen, recently acquired Dmitry Kulikov, Zach Bogosian and Jake McCabe. Josh Gorges and Cody Franson round out Buffalo's top six with youngster Brendan Guhle knocking on the door to the NHL.
Murray's tanking days are done. He and Bylsma are in win now mode. Adding a blue chipper like Trouba could go a long way to solidifying Buffalo's back end for the next 5-6 years.
Trouba would get a top four role in Buffalo and would likely earn PP and PK responsibility.
Trouba's desire to play a larger role in Winnipeg reminds me a lot of Ryan O'Reilly's situation in Denver where he was not content to be a third line winger. He wanted to be a difference maker. Tim Murray saw ROR's true value and made a trade. The rest is history. ROR no longer lives in the shadows of Gabe Landeskog, Matt Duchene, and Paul Stastny. He's living his dream in Buffalo where in his first season with the Sabres he was named to the NHL All Star team for the for the first time in his NHL Career. ROR also beat out A-Listers Taylor Hall and Wayne Simmonds to secure a job on Team Canada's World Cup Of Hockey roster. In my own humble opinion, I don't see O'Reilly earning such platitudes had he stayed in Colorado as a second fiddle.
Trouba may want to reassess his future in The Peg. Does he want to live in the tall shadows of Dustin Byfuglien or Tyler Myers? Or, does he aspire to be a leader on another NHL club for the rest of his NHL career?
Trouba and Bogosian are close personal friends, having played together in Winnipeg.
Murray and Dan Bylsma may be contemplating running a D corps of Kulikov-Ristolainen, Trouba-Bogosian, McCabe-Gorges. Franson would be the seven. Trouba would have to play the left side in Buffalo, however, he wouldn't mind it if it meant being reunited with Bogosian. Trouba has played with McCabe at Team USA's World Junior and USND programs. There is familiarity between Trouba and Buffalo's D which would make a transition to a new team run smoothly.
The Sabres have $9.1M in available salary cap space today. Re-signing Ristolainen will eat a considerable chick of that slush fund. Securing a Trouba would render Franson obsolete. Therefore, Murray could trade Franson's $3.325M 2016-17 cap hit and give that money to Trouba. What would Trouba's deal look like in Buffalo? I'd do a one year bridge deal at $4 million. Then next summer, bump it up to a six year, $33 million deal that carries a $5.5M AAV. Yes, Trouba for a Seth Jones contract.
What asset would Murray consider trading for Trouba? I would not rule our Buffalo's 2017 first round pick and a prospect.
Here's Trouba with his Buffalo Sabres/NHL friends Zack Bogosian, Jack Eichel, Matt Moulson, Jonathon Quick and others from a Garth Brooks concert in The Bronx from earlier this summer.
***
Ryan O'Reilly was the last man added to Team Canada's roster and today he is in the starting lineup as an injury replacement for Tyler Seguin.
Thus, a popular forward has been scratched for the opening round game against the Czech Republic on Saturday night.
Team Canada trios at Friday practice:
Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron
Tavares-Getzlaf-Stamkos
Couture-Toews-Perry
Duchene-O'Reilly-Thornton
I love this roster move as it reunites former Colorado Avalanche teammates Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene, who have had great chemistry playing together in Denver their NHL careers. Joe Thornton also has excellent chemistry with O'Reilly having played with him at the 2015 IIHF World Championships. This trio gives Babcock a strong skating puck possession line that can score, pass, create chances, win face offs in all three zones and play PP and PK.
After practice in Toronto on Friday, head coach Mike Babcock addressed the O'Reilly for Giroux roster move.
Babcock said that he will go with ROR because of the penalty killing prowess of the Buffalo Sabres power center. Giroux is a complete 200 foot player and he penalty kills with consistency. Babcock must hold a special place in his heart for O'Reilly's grit, grime, jam, and persistence. Babs did say that he enjoyed watching ROR center for Giroux and Thornton at the 2015 IIHF World Championships in Prague. Babcock also got an up close and personal view of ROR when Buffalo played Toronto in divisional wars last season.
O'Reilly skated 19 shifts and 13:06 TOI in Canada's fourth and final exhibition game against Russia on Wednesday night. Canada won 3-2.
She's Weber sat out Friday's practice, however, Babcock said that the veteran blue liner missed Friday's practice but will will be ready for game action tonight.
Carey Price will get the Canada net with Corey Crawford as his backup.
Muzzin joins Giroux and Brayden Holtby as the scratches
**
The Buffalo Sabres begin their Prospects Challenge schedule tonight when they host the New Jersey Devils at HARBORCenter. They host the Boston Bruins on Monday night.
Here are your trios and D pairs for Saturday night's games against the Devils:
William Carrier – Matthew Lane – Justin Bailey-Paul Geiger will scratch out.
Evan Rodrigues – Giorgio Estephan – Alexander Nylander
Daniel Muzito-Bagenda – Jean Dupuy – Vaclav Karabacek
Brandon Hagel – Vasily Glotov – Nicholas Baptiste
Eric Cornel – Cliff Pu – Hudson Fasching
Brendan Guhle – Brady Austin
Austin Osmanski – Brycen Martin
Devante Stephens – Vojtech Budik
**
Alexander Nylander, fresh off a summer spent training with his father and brother in Sweden. Nylander impressed the coaches at the first day of Sabres Prspects camp on Froday.
Rochester Amerks new head coach Dan Lambert told Sabres.com that he liked what he saw from "Snipe Show".
"I really liked his pace today," Lambert said. "I'm sure that everybody felt the same way. In development camp, some will forget that they're in different ranges of their training depending on how late they played in the season so I thought today he looked really good. He's a player that can make plays and he will make plays and that’s what he brings".
Nylander is a many in hot demand right now. He may well play for Lambert in Rochester this season. Or, the young Swede can play in Buffalo, back in his native Sweden or with the OHL Misissauga Steelheads.
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