The New York Rangers are undergoing a retool, and one of the first players to be shipped out was former
Captain Jacob Trouba in December. Now, Trouba will take on his former team. How does he feel about the scenario?
For Jacob Trouba, who was traded on December 6th, 2024, the ex-Ranger has approached this game no differently than the rest.
The page of his life has been turned, and he expects to face his old teammates with a level head and revenge in mind.
Keep in mind, this is the first time he's seen the Rangers since December. For some players who have a chip on their shoulder, this would be the pretext for someone to go out and make their old team look bad.
He was honestly excited just to see his old friends and teammates.
«I don't know, I guess it's a little different,» Trouba said Friday. «Kind of just approaching it as another game. It was good to see some friends last night, but just another game.»
Trouba's name was thrown around as a trade piece by the Rangers in the summer. He would rock the airwaves after supposedly declining a trade elsewhere while wanting to stay in New York to support his wife.
After all the drama, both Drury and Trouba would agree to a move in the fall, though it seems Rangers GM Drury had all the leverage in his favor. We all know how he treated Barclay Goodrow, remember?
«I feel like the page has already been turned,» Trouba said. «I honestly do view it as just another game, it will be a little different, obviously, but yeah, I think I've moved past it. It takes some time, things happen in life, and it's not like it turns the next day, but I think enough time has gone by that I've moved on, and everybody has moved on. I'm happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Ducks organization.»
Neither team is playing their best hockey this season, as the Ducks are 6th in the Pacific with a record of 31-32-8 and no hope of making the playoffs.
While his old squad could use another win in order to catch the Montreal Canadiens who are holding onto the second wild card spot.
It may not be a must-win for Trouba, who has dug into the lifestyle in Anaheim, but the Rangers must use the complacency expressed by Trouba and win two points in regulation.
Trouba has put the past behind him, which is a healthy thing to do, especially in regard to a toxic relationship.
But you can't help but feel his interview has shown he's adjusted to Orange County, but he undoubtedly misses his family which is on the other side of the country in New York.
Is the interview dripping in dejection?
