NEW YORK — He’s the captain of an Original Six team, living in one of the world’s great cities and playing games in one of the most famous sporting venues on the planet. He’s making US $8million a year, has a partner pursuing her medical career and an adorable Husky to keep him on his toes.
Yes, life is pretty sweet these days for Jacob Trouba, the ninth overall pick of the 2012 draft. But fans of the Winnipeg Jets will be happy to know the 28-year-old Michigan product hasn’t forgotten about the franchise, or the fans, who welcomed him into the NHL. Nor the teammates, who he faced at Madison Square Garden Monday night.
In a wide-ranging chat prior to puck drop, Trouba touched on some old friends, along with his penchant for making new enemies by throwing massive highlight-reel hits this year — just ask the Calgary Flames about that — and the pressures of leading a rising young New York Rangers club to what he hopes will be hockey’s promised land.
Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor controls the puck against New York Rangers defenceman Jacob Trouba in the second period Monday in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Let’s start with Blake Wheeler, the former Jets captain who clearly has had a major impact on Trouba’s career. The two men keep in touch, including last fall after Wheeler learned he would no longer wear the “C” on his sweater.
“After it happened I texted him and thanked him for everything he’s done for me,” said Trouba.
“He’s been a great help to me. Not just hockey-wise, but life-wise. I spend a lot of time with him and his wife in Florida, and my wife. All the hockey stuff was great, but the stuff I’ve learned from him, as a husband and a father, how he treats people, how he treats family. That’s more the stuff that stuck with me. That’s important. He’s a very competitive person, but there’s a lot more that goes into this than hockey. That’s something I really learned from him. He still has a big impact on me and my life.”
Trouba was also quick to give credit to the one and only Dustin Byfuglien, who used to literally through his weight around on the ice, something Trouba has been doing plenty this year.
“He’s a tough guy to emulate. Nobody can do what that guy did. And just the way he played. He was just kind of a presence,” said Trouba. “That’s something I took from him. Well, not took from him, but saw from him. He was ready for whatever. He’s obviously a different stature than I am, a bigger guy. But his attitude towards it I thought was good. Something I admire. It was his rink, almost. You were playing on his rink.”
Opponents certainly know when they’re on the ice with Trouba, who has been an assassin on skates at times.
“I don’t know if it’s just the way the game’s trending. Different type players than there were eight, 10 years ago, you could say,” Trouba said. “It’s never really something I run around looking for, ever. Just kind of when it presents itself, make the hit. I don’t have an answer for why it’s more frequent, though. Getting better at it? It’s not like I pick when they come. They just kind of come when they come. But yeah, I would say the last couple years it’s been a bit more frequent.”
Then there was the subject of his former blue-liner partner, Josh Morrissey, who entered play Monday tied with Byfuglien for the all-time franchise record (Jets 2.0 and Atlanta Thrashers) for points by a defenceman in a single season. He would break the record in the first period by assisting on Winnipeg’s opening goal.
“I’ve been texting him throughout the year. I don’t want to jinx it, so I try to keep my space,” Trouba said.
“He’s always had the offensive ability. I think he’s been put in a spot to really thrive this year. He’s always shown in. He’s always been a good player. Super happy for him. Obviously you guys know him but a super person. I was lucky enough to go to his wedding last summer.”
Trouba admits he struggled following the 2019 blockbuster trade that sent him to New York in exchange for a package that included Neal Pionk going the other way. Specifically, he wasn’t able to duplicate the offensive success he had in Winnipeg. But he began to adjust to a different role, especially with an emerging superstar in Adam Fox on the blue-line.
“Where this team was four years ago is different than where it is today. And where I fit on this team,” said Trouba, who has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 57 games this year. His career high of 50 was set in 2018-19 with the Jets.
“Obviously Foxy is Foxy. Let him run around and do what he does and find my role and help this team win. I think that’s the most important part,” he said. “I think early in my career it’s natural for anyone to be point chasing. And now it’s just here to win hockey games, that’s all I really care about. If the team wins, I’m happy. Do whatever I can, whatever I’m asked to do and whatever role I’m asked to play. Just win.”
New York coach Gerard Gallant said Trouba is valuable to the team in so many ways and a natural born leader.
“He’s been a character guy in our locker room. He brings a complete game for us every night and that’s the thing, his consistency most nights is real good,” said Gallant. “We like what he brings to the table and when we named him captain, he’s a big piece of our group. I was here a year and we didn’t have a captain and at the end of that year, we sat down with the leadership group and management and he was the obvious choice.”
Trouba was asked about the increased pressure that comes with being the captain of the Rangers, with their rich hockey history in such a vibrant market. He joked that it usually means having to talk more — but only “after losses. Usually they want to talk to the good guys after wins.”
“No, not a lot. Things probably fall on your plate that you have to handle, but that’s kind of how it was for me growing up with older guys handling all that stuff. You want to kind of let the young guys play hockey and not worry about too much,” he said.
“I’m considered an old guy now I guess, so you can handle the situations and manage the locker room. That’s an important part of a team, an important part of being a hockey player. I think it’s important for young guys to know not everything is on their plate. Just go out and play hockey and be a part of the team.”
Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg
Mike McIntyre
Sports columnist
Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
