Former Rangers GM confirms a major Jacob Trouba rumor

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Tyler Ball
July 13, 2024 (3:00 PM)

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Today a former New York Rangers General Manager shed some light on Chris Drury's handling of the Jacob Trouba trade situation.

Since the beginning of the offseason, there have been rumors of Jacob Trouba potentially being available via trade from the New York Rangers. According to sources, the Rangers were set to send Jacob Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings before a report leaked leading him to change his no-trade clause to include Detroit.

Apparently the holdup I have been reporting with Trouba to #LGRW is due to him putting Detroit on his no trade list once he found out thats where #NYR wanted to send him. Original @stefen_rosner

Now it seems #Sabres are most likely. Working to see whos going back to NYR. #NHL

After these reports came out discussion began on how the New York Rangers let their plan leak. A lot of the blame has been placed on General Manager Chris Drury. In a recent interview, former Ranger GM Neil Smith discussed whether that blame was warranted.

Former Rangers GM rips the team for their handling of Jacob Trouba

Former Rangers GM Neil Smith joined a podcast recently to discuss the New York Rangers. During the discussion he laid into the team for their blatant mishandling of the trade talks involving their captain Jacob Trouba.

The thing that I'm surprised that in that situation is to allow this to happen, and to allow it to happen publicly, admitted Smith.

Neil Smith also confirms that Jacob Trouba and his camp were ready to work with the Rangers and submit their list. Once the team had a trade lined up to send him to Detroit without any communication Jacob Trouba and his agency delayed and submitted on July 1st and included Detroit on the no-trade list.

Now you go to him and it leaks out that you've talked to Detroit because he's a Michigan guy... and now you ask him for his 15 team no trade list, said Smith. They say Well screw you we're not giving it to you until July 1st and what do they do? They put down as one of the 15 no-trade teams Detroit, because it's already gotten out there.

Now the New York Rangers have a mess to sort out. They still presumably want to move on from Jacob Trouba. However, teams also now know he is not enthusiastic about leaving which could lead fewer teams to be interested. If the Rangers can find a trade it will be interesting to see if they get a fair return back.

Source: Hockey Feed
Former Rangers GM confirms Jacob Trouba blocked major trade.