The Jets shouldn’t trade Jacob Trouba, but if they do the Oilers should be very interested
7 years ago
The Winnipeg Jets should not trade Jacob Trouba.
Nevertheless, the pending restricted free agent has seen his
name appear in trade rumours for most of the season. Winnipeg’s depth on the
right side (Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are both signed long-term) as well
as a persistent belief that Trouba is seeking a big raise in the summer have
helped fuel that speculation.
name appear in trade rumours for most of the season. Winnipeg’s depth on the
right side (Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers are both signed long-term) as well
as a persistent belief that Trouba is seeking a big raise in the summer have
helped fuel that speculation.
If the Jets do in fact entertain moving the young rearguard,
it’s hard to imagine many better fits for the needs of the Edmonton Oilers.
it’s hard to imagine many better fits for the needs of the Edmonton Oilers.
Trouba comes from the defence-rich 2012 Draft class, and Red Line Report did a nice job of
summing up his strengths and weaknesses at that time:
summing up his strengths and weaknesses at that time:
Perhaps the best pure skating defencemen in this year’s
draft with great wheels, powerful stride, lateral mobility and quick feet. Very
smooth pivots. Excellent backwards skater. Intense competitor with lots of
fire. Loves the physical aspect of the game and is constantly looking to
initiate contact – plays with a mean streak. Shutdown defender is defensively
aware and well-positioned. Great gap control and tough to beat off the rush.
Uses his size/strength to win all the board battles. Can carry the puck out of
the zone under heavy pressure and likes to activate offensively, moving up into
the rush often, but lacks instincts at offensive end and is neither creative or
effective in his rushes. Lacks offensive upside and PP acumen. Team leader is a
confident, take-charge guy.
To this day, that’s a pretty decent scouting report on the
player.
player.
Trouba has not proven a good fit on Winnipeg’s power play,
generating mediocre offensive totals at 5-on-4 despite getting regular work in
the discipline over the last three years. He was a big five-on-five scorer as a
rookie, but his numbers have since fallen off considerably. He’s young enough that
there’s still some offensive upside, but in all likelihood that’s not going to
be his calling at the NHL level.
generating mediocre offensive totals at 5-on-4 despite getting regular work in
the discipline over the last three years. He was a big five-on-five scorer as a
rookie, but his numbers have since fallen off considerably. He’s young enough that
there’s still some offensive upside, but in all likelihood that’s not going to
be his calling at the NHL level.
That’s the one part of his game that would make him a poor
fit for the Oilers, a club which needs a legitimate power play weapon.
fit for the Oilers, a club which needs a legitimate power play weapon.
However, the rest of his game is a fit. He’s a big, fast,
physical defenceman with brains and reasonable ability with the puck. His
underlying numbers, with one caveat, are excellent.
physical defenceman with brains and reasonable ability with the puck. His
underlying numbers, with one caveat, are excellent.
The caveat is Mark Stuart. Together the duo was a 48
percent Corsi defence pairing that got outscored by a half-goal per hour.
Trouba away from Stuart had a 54 percent Corsi rating and the Jets outscored
the opposition by a full goal per hour; Stuart away from Trouba had a 44
percent Corsi rating and the opposition outscored the Jets by a full goal per
hour.
percent Corsi defence pairing that got outscored by a half-goal per hour.
Trouba away from Stuart had a 54 percent Corsi rating and the Jets outscored
the opposition by a full goal per hour; Stuart away from Trouba had a 44
percent Corsi rating and the opposition outscored the Jets by a full goal per
hour.
He can even play on his off-side. Garret Hohl of our sister
site Jets Nation recently
showed that Trouba performed well when placed on the left side of the
defensive depth chart, and that’s a possible road forward for Winnipeg.
site Jets Nation recently
showed that Trouba performed well when placed on the left side of the
defensive depth chart, and that’s a possible road forward for Winnipeg.
Again: The Jets should not trade this player. But if they
do, Edmonton should be all over them. This is a good, young right-shot
defenceman with a range of skills who is likely to be a franchise cornerstone
for the next decade, and he’s a player who doesn’t come up often enough when
the Oilers’ potential trade targets are discussed.
do, Edmonton should be all over them. This is a good, young right-shot
defenceman with a range of skills who is likely to be a franchise cornerstone
for the next decade, and he’s a player who doesn’t come up often enough when
the Oilers’ potential trade targets are discussed.
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