This week began with questions about whether the New York Rangers would trade defenseman Jacob Trouba. The 30-year-old captain was reportedly close to being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in late June but blocked the deal using his no-movement clause.
Speculation arose about the Rangers' next steps, including potentially placing Trouba on waivers or buying out the final two years of his contract. However, most believed Trouba would remain on the roster for the start of the season in October.
On Tuesday, The Athletic's Arthur Staple reported that the Rangers had no plans to trade Trouba this summer. Moving him would require finding a replacement third-pairing defenseman who can kill penalties and take on additional minutes as needed. With the free-agent market lacking quality talent and few suitable trade options, it seems likely Trouba will stay.
Staple also noted that Trouba is handling the situation professionally and won't let the trade attempt affect his play or team interactions this season. However, he suggested it's highly probable that Trouba could be traded next summer when he has one year left on his contract and a 15-team no-trade list. Additionally, his wife is expected to complete her medical residency by then, a significant factor in his decision to block the Detroit trade.
In other news, the St. Louis Blues announced that defenseman Torey Krug has been diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle. The 33-year-old will be re-evaluated in six to eight weeks to see if his condition improves with rehab; otherwise, he will require season-ending surgery.
Krug is entering the fifth season of his seven-year contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million and a full no-trade clause, which he used last summer to block a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Last week, the Blues raised eyebrows by signing free agent Ryan Suter, resulting in a surplus of nine defensemen on one-way contracts. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic speculated that the Blues might trade one of them, with Krug's name reappearing in trade rumors. However, on Tuesday, Rutherford indicated that Krug's diagnosis makes a trade unlikely, as no team will pursue a player facing potential season-ending surgery.
