Insider Elliotte Friedman reveals details of Trouba trade negotiations

It was clear the blueliner wanted out of Winnipeg, but maybe not for the reasons fans believed.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Insider Elliotte Friedman reveals details of Trouba trade negotiations
Zuma Press

In case you missed it, the Winnipeg Jets traded defenseman Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers last night in exchange for Neal Pionk and the 20th overall in this week’s 2019 NHL Entry Draft.


It was a trade that shocked the hockey world, despite the fact that Trouba’s name has been floated on the trade market for… well for years now, actually. Still, many Jets fans are left wondering why GM Kevin Cheveldayoff wasn’t able to get more for a young, right shooting, 50 point Dman. 

It’s clear that Trouba’s preference was to play in the United States and the blue liner said so much recently, as his fiancée, is pursuing a career as a doctor in the couple’s home country.

"Everyone kinds of views me and I guess most athletes just as athletes, but there's other goals in life that I have," he said. "I want to be a husband and a father and all that stuff, and her career is important and she's worked extremely hard. I want to see the best for her as much as she wants to see the best for me."

Cheveldayoff confirmed the speculation, as well saying,"He had some personal things that he wanted to see come to fruition. And obviously with one year to unrestricted free agency, he had that prerogative moving forward."

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes that Cheveldayoff wasn’t able to get as much for Trouble as he would have liked due to the uncertainty regarding the NHL’s salary cap moving forward.

Check out this report from Friedman released earlier today:

The days of the hometown discount are ending. There will always be exceptions — Tampa Bay having an excellent team and terrific taxation situation is the obvious one at this time — but more and more players are flexing their financial muscle. The younger generation in particular is indicating it will not be satisfied taking a salary backseat.
In a hard cap system, the punishment for drafting and developing well is that you have to make choices. The Jets are a perfect example, but everyone is feeling it.
So, here’s what I think the NHL and NHLPA are looking at as a potential solution: Both sides are working on models that show what the cap would look like with zero per cent escrow, and other models that show what it would look like with five or six per cent escrow.
The nuclear option (which I don’t think will happen) is the cap stays at $79.5 million for two more seasons. What is more likely is the NHL and NHLPA agree to a cap for the next two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21), with a $2-$2.5-million raise per year from the current $79.5. That puts next year’s number between $81.5-$82 million, and 2020-21 between $83.5-$84.5.
Then, if everything works out with the American television deal, there’s a consistent rise for 2021-22 and beyond. It means a tight two seasons, but is the best hope for labour peace.
So, that’s my theory and a window into the Trouba deal. (Jets owner Mark Chipman, by the way, is on the NHL’s Executive Committee.) Could be right, could be wrong. But I think there’s something to it.


No matter how it all shook down, the Rangers have themselves a shiny new toy, meanwhile the Jets turn their focus to the draft where they have a chance to grab a good, young player at 20th overall.