On Jacob Trouba and Winnipeg Jets …
Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Free Press: Jacob Trouba’s agent, Kurt Overhardt doesn’t expect anything to change after their trade requests went public.
“I don’t anticipate anything changing. This is the process,” said Kurt Overhardt of KO Sports.
Trouba’s camp maintains it’s about playing time and opportunity and not about money.
“You heard what the young man said (through the released statement). He’s not crazy or selfish,” said Overhardt. “At the end of the day, we have to live with ourselves and live with our values and what we think our potential is. It’s not about money.”
Kevin Allen of the USA Today: The five teams that would benefit the most by trading for Jacob Trouba are the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils.
Chris Nichols: Bob McKenzie: “I absolutely believe Buffalo would have interest in Jacob Trouba. But not if it means giving up Ristolainen.”
Chris Nichols: McKenzie said that Bruins would be a team interested in Trouba, but he doesn’t know if they would have the wherewithal to meet the Jets asking price.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie on TSN 1040 on Jacob Trouba. McKenzie thinks the process could play out slowly, unless someone sends a big offer soon, which likely won’t happen.
It’s a difficult deal as Winnipeg Jets have a specific want – a young, left-handed defenseman. Not many teams have a comparable one for the Jets. The Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks don’t want to trade Rasmus Ristolainen and Hampus Lindholm in a one-for-one deal for Trouba.
“So the best fits right now are not places that would work, and there’s all sorts of teams – probably Vancouver – I mean, who doesn’t want a 22-year-old right-shot defenseman who has both offensive ability and the ability to play shutdown physical hockey. Who doesn’t want that? Everybody wants that on their team. But the question is, where’s the fit? The Jets don’t need wingers. Right now, what they’re looking for is very limited, and I don’t think they’re in a hurry to make the deal.”
When asked if the Canucks would have the assets to trade for Trouba, McKenzie responded with:
“I’m not sure that they do,” began McKenzie, looking at his NHL depth charts. “Who’s on the left side for the Canucks . You’ve got Edler, I believe. Hutton. Sbisa. So I wouldn’t think that Hutton would be a natural fit there for Winnipeg, per say. But maybe Hutton, plus, plus or whatever.
“Again, I’m not sure how badly the Canucks, or a lot of other teams, want to start getting into the ‘plus, plus’ part of that, where crucial young players are going to be part of the equation.”