| Jacob Trouba | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Trouba with theNew York Rangers in November 2019 | |||
| Born | (1994-02-26)February 26, 1994 (age 31) Rochester,Michigan, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Anaheim Ducks Winnipeg Jets New York Rangers | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 9th overall,2012 Winnipeg Jets | ||
| Playing career | 2013–present | ||
Jacob Ryan Trouba (born February 26, 1994) is an American professionalice hockeydefenseman for theAnaheim Ducks of theNational Hockey League (NHL). Trouba was drafted by theWinnipeg Jets in the first round, ninth overall, of the2012 NHL entry draft. Trouba played the first six years of his career in Winnipeg before he was traded to theNew York Rangers in 2019. Trouba spent five seasons with the Rangers including two and a half seasons as captain before his trade to the Anaheim Ducks in 2024.
As a youth, Trouba played in the 2007Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuwareminor ice hockey team.[1] He later played two seasons with theUSA Hockey National Team Development Program in theUnited States Hockey League (USHL) and at several international tournaments.[2]
After finishing his junior hockey career, Trouba joined theUniversity of Michigan for the 2012–13 season, where he played in 37 games for the Wolverines in his first season, scoring 12goals and 17assists.[3] At the end of the season, Trouba was named a First Team All-American and was also honored as theCentral Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Best Offensive Defenseman. He was also named first team All-CCHA and an All-CCHA Rookie.[4] Trouba was also named as the team's Most Valuable Player and Best Defenseman.[4] He was the onlyfreshman on the All-American team as well as being the first freshman in the history of the University of Michigan hockey to be named a First Team All-American.[5] At the conclusion of his freshman campaign, Trouba announced he was leaving the team to begin his professional career.[6]
Trouba was selected by theWinnipeg Jets of theNational Hockey League (NHL) in the first round, ninth overall, of the2012 NHL entry draft. He signed an entry-level contract with the Jets on April 2, 2013.[7] On October 1, Trouba played his first career NHL game for the Jets, scoring his first NHL goal againstDevan Dubnyk of theEdmonton Oilers. He also added an assist in the game and was named the game's first star.[8] During his rookie season in2013–14, Trouba missed over a month of action after he was injured in his eighth game when he fell into theboards after missing a bodycheck against theSt. Louis Blues. He remained upbeat in the aftermath of his injury, updating fans onTwitter by saying, "If you were wondering, the boards are not edible. I'll be back soon."[9][10][11] He appeared in 65 games with the Jets that season, scoring ten goals and 19 assists for 29points.[12] In the2014–15 season, he played in 65 games with Winnipeg, marking seven goals and 22 points.[12] He registered a three-point game on December 3, 2014, notching one goal and two assists in a 3–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.[13] However, later that month on December 16, he suffered an upper body injury that kept him out until February 2015.[14] The Jets made the2015 Stanley Cup playoffs and Trouba made his NHL playoff debut on April 16 in Game 1 of the first round series versus theAnaheim Ducks. The Jets lost the game, but Trouba recorded his first NHL playoff point assisting onAdam Lowry's first period goal.[15] The Jets were eliminated by the Ducks in four games, during which Trouba played with a broken hand.[16][17] In the four games, he recorded two assists.[12]
In the following2015–16 season, Trouba played in nearly every game, getting into 81 with the Jets, while scoring six goals and 21 points.[12] The Jets failed to make the playoffs and in the offseason, on September 23, 2016, Trouba released a statement through hisagent stating that he had requested a trade from the Jets.[18] However, on November 7, he agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract extension with the Jets, having missed the first 13 games of the2016–17 season.[19][20] Had he not signed by December 1, he would not have been eligible to play in the NHL for the rest of the season.[21] He was a healthy scratch for the first two games after signing before making his season debut on November 11 against theColorado Avalanche.[20] In his shortened season he appeared in 60 games for Winnipeg, scoring eight goals and 33 points.[12] On February 21, 2017, Trouba was suspended for two games by the NHL for an illegalcheck to the head ofOttawa Senators' forwardMark Stone.[22] He recorded a multi-goal game on April 6, scoring two against theColumbus Blue Jackets in a 5–4 victory.[23]
In the2017–18 season, Trouba appeared in 55 games, scoring three goals and 24 points.[12] He missed 20 games with an ankle injury suffered in a game against the Anaheim Ducks on January 25, 2018.[24][25] He returned to the lineup on March 15 against the Chicago Blackhawks, but in the next game against theDallas Stars on March 18, he suffered aconcussion after being hit byJamie Benn.[25][26] He returned to the lineup on March 31 as the Jets clinched a spot in the2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.[27] He appeared in 17 playoff games, scoring two goals and three points.[12] His first NHL playoff goal was the game winner and series clincher in Game 5 on April 20 of the first round series victory over theMinnesota Wild.[28] Following the Jets' successful 2018 playoffs in which the team reached theConference finals for the first time in franchise history, Trouba filed for salary arbitration. On July 22, he was awarded a one-year, $5.5 million extension with the Jets.[29]
Trouba finished the2018–19 season having played in all 82 games, scoring eight goals and 50 points.[12] He was one of only three defensemen under 25 to score 50 points or more, along withMorgan Rielly andThomas Chabot.[30] On October 20, he recorded a three-point game, registering three assists in a 5–3 victory over theArizona Coyotes.[31] He added a second three-point game on January 8, 2019, scoring a goal and adding two assists in a 7–4 win over the Colorado Avalanche.[32] The Jets secured their spot in the2019 Stanley Cup playoffs and in the first round, faced the St. Louis Blues.[33] Trouba played in all six games in the series, marking one assist, as the Blues eliminated the Jets.[33]
Following the 2018–19 season, Trouba and the Jets were once again unable to come to terms on an extension. One of his primary reasons for not signing was his then fiancee's desire to attend medical school in the United States.[34]On June 17, 2019, Trouba was traded by the Jets to theNew York Rangers in exchange for defensemanNeal Pionk and Winnipeg's first-round pick in the2019 NHL entry draft, which had been previously acquired by the Rangers in exchange for the Jets receivingKevin Hayes.[35] On July 19, the Rangers signed Trouba to a seven-year, $56 million free-agent contract worth an average annual value of $8 million.[36] Trouba scored his first goal for the Rangers, as well as two assists, during the2019–20 season opener on October 3 against his former team, the Winnipeg Jets.[37] Trouba tied a career-high in points,[38] and he became the first defenseman to register three points in a Rangers debut.[30] He was fined $5,000 on January 12, 2020, by the NHL for aslashing infraction againstVince Dunn of the St. Louis Blues.[39] He played in 70 games with the Rangers, scoring seven goals and 27 points before the NHL suspended the season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020.[12][40] When play resumed for the2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers faced theCarolina Hurricanes in the best-of-five qualifying round.[41] Trouba played in all three games, registering one assist, as the Hurricanes swept the Rangers.[12][41]
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In his second season with the Rangers in the pandemic-shortened2020–21 season, Trouba appeared in 38 games, marking two goals and 12 points.[12] However, the team missed the playoffs.[42] The following season in2021–22 played in 81 games, scoring 11 goals and 39 points.[12] He registered a three-point game on January 22, 2022, scoring two goals and marking one assist in a 7–3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes.[43] The Rangers went on a deep run in the2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, advancing to theEastern Conference finals, but ultimately lost to theTampa Bay Lightning in six games.[44] Trouba appeared in 20 playoff games, scoring one goal and five points.[12]
During the offseason, Trouba was named the 28thcaptain in franchise history. He was the first captain sinceRyan McDonagh was traded during the 2017–18 season. He also became the 12th defenseman in team history to be named captain and the fourth consecutive U.S.-born player to wear the "C" on his sweater afterChris Drury (2008–2011),Ryan Callahan (2011–2014) and McDonagh (2014–2018). Trouba had served as analternate captain the previous two years while being lauded for his leadership abilities by both his first Rangers coach,David Quinn, and his successor,Gerard Gallant.[45]
During the2022–23 season, during a 5-2 loss to theChicago Blackhawks at home on December 3, Trouba was involved in two separate on-ice incidents. In the first period, he foughtJujhar Khaira, whom he had concussed and knocked unconscious with an open-ice hit in the last game between the Rangers and Blackhawks the previous season.[46] Then, in the second period, with the Blackhawks leading 3–0, Trouba delivered an open-ice hit toAndreas Athanasiou, inciting a line brawl that included a fight between Trouba and Blackhawks captainJonathan Toews. After the brawl, Trouba yelled at and threw his helmet towards the Rangers bench.[47][48] The incident and game was seen as a turning point in the Rangers season, who entering the game, had a record of 11 wins, 10 losses and 5 overtime losses. After the incident, the team won 36 games, lost 12 and a further 8 in overtime.[48] On April 5, 2023, Trouba was named the recipient of the second annual "Mr. Ranger Award" presented in memory ofRod Gilbert. The award is given to the Rangers player "who best honors Rod's legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community."[49] He appeared in all 82 games for the Rangers that season, scoring eight goals and 30 points.[12] In the2023 Stanley Cup playoffs the Rangers faced theNew Jersey Devils in the first round. The series went the full seven games, with the Devils prevailing.[50] Trouba appeared in all seven games, going scoreless.[12]
The2023–24 regular season was a major success for the Rangers, who won thePresidents' Trophy as the league's top team. Trouba had three goals and 19 assists in 69 games, and received theMark Messier Leadership Award in recognition of his "leadership qualities" and his extensive charitable activities.[51] On November 25, he was fined $5,000 for ahigh-sticking infraction againstTrent Frederic of theBoston Bruins.[52] He was also suspended for two games on January 24, 2024 forelbowing Vegas Golden Knights' forwardPavel Dorofeyev.[53] He finished the season having appeared in 69 games, scoring three goals and 22 points.[12] In the2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference final again, but were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in six games.[54] During the series, Trouba was fined $5,000 for elbowingEvan Rodrigues in Game 3.[55] Trouba scored one goal and seven points in 16 playoff games.[12]
With the Rangers unhappy with Trouba's poor play relative to his expensive contract, in the 2024 offseason Trouba's name was consistently mentioned in trade rumors, including reports that a trade had been made with theDetroit Red Wings, though the team was on Trouba's list of places he did not want to be traded to, a list of 15 teams submitted each June of the existing contract which Trouba had reportedly filled with unlikely trade candidates as he did not want to be traded.[56] Despite the rumours, he opened the2024–25 season with the Rangers and appeared in 24 games, registering six assists.[12] However, the rumors resumed after a memo that had been sent out by the Rangers to other NHL general managers listing the players available for trade, with Trouba's name among them, was leaked to the media in November.[57] On December 6, with his future with the Rangers clouded and the team still trying to move him off the roster, it was revealed that Trouba would be held out of the lineup for that evening's game against thePittsburgh Penguins.[58] The team reportedly had a number of suitors interested in Trouba, but Trouba was not willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to them. He was told that he would be placed onwaivers at 2 p.m. that day if he did not accept a trade, which would have allowed any team to claim Trouba for free, regardless of it they were on his no-trade list or not.[59] The way in which Rangers' management had handled the Trouba situation was not well received by New York players and reportedly was one of the factors which affected the team's play during the2024–25 season.[60][61]
Faced with the potential of being placed on waivers, Trouba accepted a trade to the Anaheim Ducks on December 6, with the Rangers receiving defensemanUrho Vaakanainen and a2025 fourth-round pick from Anaheim.[62] He made his Ducks debut on December 9 against theMontreal Canadiens.[63] Trouba was paired withCam Fowler and played well. However, the Ducks lost the game in theshootout 3–2.[64]
Trouba spent much of his amateur career playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program in the USHL and at several international tournaments. He represented his country at two World Under-18 Championships, one World Junior Championships and one World Senior Championship.[2] In 2011 and 2012, Trouba captured gold medals with the U.S. at the World Under-18 Championships.[65]
Trouba was the youngest player on the American team at the2012 World Junior Championship.[66] In 2013, he represented the United States at both thejunior andsenior levels, capturing gold and bronze medals, respectively.[65] At the World Junior Championship in 2013, Trouba was named the tournament's top defenseman and earned a spot on the All-Star Team.[65]
Trouba was born to parents John and Krista and has a younger brother Chris. His brother also plays ice hockey and most recently played with the Plattsburgh State Cardinals.[67] On June 28, 2020, he posted onInstagram that he married his long-time girlfriend, Kelly Tyson.[68]
Trouba is also a visual artist, sharing his first paintings on Instagram in mid 2023. Trouba creates his works with artist Michael Geschwer by skating into blank canvases while wearing full hockey gear coated in paint.[69] He held his first exhibition from August 1 through August 23, 2024, at Harper's Gallery in New York City.[70]
In September 2017, Trouba's Jets' teammateBlake Wheeler criticized then-U.S. presidentDonald Trump's comments onNational Football League players kneeling during the national anthem. Trouba supported Wheeler and stated, "It takes a lot of courage to stand up to that, so I think it's courageous what Blake did and what a lot of athletes are doing."[71] Furthermore, Trouba said that sports had become more political than at the start of his career "but Donald Trump also wasn't president at that point."[72]
In 2024 Trouba joined Hockey Fights Cancer as the face of their "Get Body Checked Against Cancer" campaign, playing on his notoriety for body checks.[73]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pt | PIM | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 31 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP U17 | USDP | 17 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 22 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 32 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 37 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 65 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 65 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 81 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 60 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 55 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 34 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 | ||
| 2018–19 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 82 | 8 | 42 | 50 | 58 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | New York Rangers | NHL | 38 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | New York Rangers | NHL | 81 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 88 | 20 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 25 | ||
| 2022–23 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 63 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2023–24 | New York Rangers | NHL | 69 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 73 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 | ||
| 2024–25 | New York Rangers | NHL | 24 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 772 | 73 | 242 | 315 | 626 | 73 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 76 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | United States | U17 |  | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 10 | |
| 2011 | United States | U18 |  | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | United States | WJC | 7th | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | United States | U18 | | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2013 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 10 | |
| 2013 | United States | WC |  | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2014 | United States | WC | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | |
| 2016 | Team North America | WCH | 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2017 | United States | WC | 5th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 30 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 | ||||
| Senior totals | 21 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| USHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2011–12 | [74] |
| College | ||
| All-CCHA Rookie Team | 2012–13 | [74] |
| All-CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman | 2012–13 | [74] |
| All-CCHA First Team | 2012–13 | [74] |
| AHCA West First-Team All-American | 2012–13 | [74] |
| CCHA All-Tournament Team | 2013 | |
| NHL | ||
| Mark Messier Leadership Award | 2023–24 | [51] |
| International | ||
| World Junior Championships Top 3 Player on Team | 2013 | [74] |
| World Junior Championships All-Star Team | 2013 | [74] |
| World Junior Championships Best Defenseman | 2013 | [74] |
| New York Rangers | ||
| Mr. Ranger Award | 2023 | [49] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winnipeg Jets first round draft pick 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman 2012–13 | Succeeded by Award Discontinued |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | New York Rangers captain 2022–2024 | Succeeded by TBD |
