Rangers Trade Captain Trouba to Ducks after Waiver Threat; Ducks Assume $8M Cap Hit

Dec 6, 2024, 07:36 PM

The New York Rangers have traded their captain, defenseman Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, multiple sources reported on Friday. The Ducks will assume Trouba's full $8 million annual cap hit, providing the Rangers with significant salary cap relief. Following discussions with the team, Trouba waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal. Reports indicate that the Rangers had threatened to place Trouba on waivers if he did not accept a trade, a tactic Trouba confirmed by stating, 'It was a threat.' Trouba's departure marks the end of his tenure as captain of the Rangers, a position he held since 2022. Teammates, including Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, expressed their respect for Trouba, with Zibanejad saying, 'We love him to death.' The trade frees up considerable cap space for the Rangers, who now project to have over $33 million in cap space next season, potentially paving the way for contract extensions or additional acquisitions, such as a new deal for goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Trouba, 30, expressed disappointment at how the situation unfolded, stating, 'In my opinion, things could have been handled better.' He is expected to join the Ducks on their upcoming road trip starting in Montreal. The Rangers' decision to move on from Trouba signals a significant shift as the team looks to overhaul its roster after a disappointing start to the season.