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Trouba Detective

September 24, 2016, 11:39 PM ET [12 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
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I've been telling you for the past couple of months about the uncertain future of Jacob Trouba in Winnipeg. The young defenseman is a restricted free agent and there appears to be no hurry on the behalf of the Jets to re-sign the youngster to a long term deal.


Trouba's situation in a nutshell:


The kid wants feels that he has earned a long term contract in the $6 million plus AAV neighborhood. He wants to play top four minutes, play the power play and play his natural right D position.

The Jets already are offering bridge contract to Trouba. He hasn't proven himself just yet. That's why Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are the top two right shots D. Big Buff and Myers also log the power play minutes.


The Winnipeg Jets Jets don't want to lose Jacob Trouba.

The Jets also want to Trouba to play left D. He prefers to play the right side.

Their GM Kevin Cheveldayoff released a statement on Saturday night. In it, the Jets GM said that Trouba is “an important part of the long-term future of our club.”

On Saturday afternoon, the 22 year old Michinager requested a trade from the Jets via his agent. Cheveldayoff “any decisions made regarding Jacob Trouba will be in the best interest interest of the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club.”

Cheveldayoff has stated they would “continue to work diligently to resolve this matter.”

That's code for "accept our bridge deal offer and like it because you won't be getting your way".


Trouba’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, released a statement Saturday afternoon officially asking Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets to trade him.

Trouba's agent said that there have been no negotiations regarding the terms of a contract between Trouba and the Jets over the course of the last several months. The situation is not about money; it is solely about Trouba having the opportunity to realize his potential as a right shot NHL defenseman.


The trade request will certainly put a crimp in Cheveldayoff's negotiations with Trouba and his agent. How can a GM negotiate with a player when he wants to leave the organization?

TSN's Darren Dreger spoke with Trouba on Saturday night. Trouba said that his trade request has nothing to do with his feelings for the Jets organization nor the city of Winnipeg. Trouba wants what he wants and he wants it now. He wants the opportunity to play in the top four, and one the PP. Trouba also wants to see increases in his time on ice. Again, Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Paul Postma are the righties in Winnipeg's top six. Last season, Trouba was moved to the left side and played alongside Mark Stuart. The move to a lot for Trouba to get used to and he suffered the lowest offensive production of his NHL career.

Trouba via Dreger:

“I didn’t want it to get to this point. To not play is not what I want. This has nothing to do with money…it never has.”


I do know that several teams reached out to Cheveldayoff ta the NHL Draft to inquire about Trouba's availability. Among them were Buffalo, Detroit, and Boston.

Buffalo GM Tim Murray has been patiently trying to acquire a puck moving PP QB. Trouba just might be his man. Trouba has a long relationship with former Jet and current Sabres D Zach Bogosian.


At what price Trouba?


Interested teams will have to pony up a left shot D and a scoring forward. A first round draft choice in either 2017 or 2018 may also be used as currency for Trouba.


In Buffalo's case, Tim Murray would likely have to part with a defensive prospect such as Brendan Guhle or Will Borgen, and, his first round pick this season or next. That is a deal that I would give my approval to.


Think of a Buffalo top six D corps that consists of:

McCabe-Ristolainen
Trouba-Bogosian
Gorges-Kulikov
*Franson

Trouba-Ristolainen is also an intriguing possibility.


Pretty impressive.


Trouba averaged 22:04 TOI for the Jets in 2015-16.


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. Trouba is looking for a place to happen. Winnipeg can't give him what he wants in order to develop into the player he wants to be moving forward.

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 told the Winnipeg Free Press two weeks ago at the World Cup of Hockey tournament.

Trouba knows what side his bread is buttered on. He sacrificed for his Jets 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."

Trouba can play right and left. I think what Trouba has been telling Winnipeg is:


"Make it worth my while to play the left side. Show me the money".


The Jets are not going to show Trouba the money that he is seeking.


There are teams that want to trade for Trouba. He still hasn't found what he's looking for in Winnipeg.

Trouba's recent experience at the World Cup of Hockey was reminiscent of his time in Winnipeg. Trouba's talent and measurables made him a must-have for Team NA's management team. He's big, fast, strong, skates like the wind, has a bomb of a shot, can play top four, yada, yada yada.



At times, Trouba didn't seem to fit. He was forced to have to wait patiently for his chance to play a role for The Youngbloods.

Trouba was Team NA's 7th D because of the impressively overall play of Aaron Ekblad, Shayne Gostisbehere, Colton Parayko, Seth Jones, Morgan Reilly, Ryan Murray

It wasn't until Aaron Ekblad suffered a concussion against Finland that Trouba got his chance to play.

Once he did crack the starting lineup, Trouba played brilliantly at times logging 15:30 TOI vs. Sweden and 16:48 TOI vs. Russia.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Trouba is just looking for a place to happen. Unfortunately, Winnipeg is not that place. It's time for Trouba to move on.


Tim Murray and the Sabres have a need for a top four D. They also have PP TOI to offer to Trouba. Murray has $9.1 million in available cap space to re-sign Rasmus Ristolainen and to break off $ 3.1 million for Trouba this season. Murray will get cap relief next summer when the contracts of Cody Franson, Dmitriy Kulikov and Brian Gionta fall off the books.
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