In the ongoing soap opera that is the Jacob Trouba trade request from the Winnipeg Jets, it seems not only that his original "positioning" and "usage" complaint that every Jets fan, hockey insider and commentator know is a farce (since the team you're playing for determines your "usage" for one) but now, according to TSN and The Hockey News Jim McKenzie, Trouba apparently doesn't want to play in Canada.
If a guy who doesn't want to play for a team that guarantees him as a top two pairing defenceman, about 18-20 minutes of ice time and powerplay time, meanwhile complaining about not being used right; he can sit home and rot. Now he allegedly doesn't even want to play for a Canadian team? See ya.
If you've been following the Trouba debacle, as every Jets fan (and obviously every NHL general manager) has, you'll know that the Jets are looking for a player in similar age and ability, and have been ever since Trouba's agent made the trade request on behalf of his client back in May. Hence, the drawn out shenanigans and media circus that has followed. Obviously, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is taking his time in getting what he needs for Trouba. Talks with Detroit, Boston, Toronto, Arizona, Philadelphia and others have apparently fallen through, for now, so it looks like if Trouba doesn't decide to take a bridge deal by December 1st, he will sit the rest of the season. He may still be able to play in Europe, but with the Jets retaining his rights and not wanting Trouba to possibly injure himself while overseas, thereby losing any upper hand in a potential deal, that probably will not come to fruition.
The Jets hold all the cards and Trouba and his agent know it. So do all the other NHL GMs. He isn't going anywhere until Cheveldayoff says so. Trouba is a seemingly irreplaceable player that is supposed to develop into a top six or even top four defenceman, even though his ice time increased but his production has declined in the last two seasons.
The best Trouba can hope for, and what will probably end up happening is he will re-sign with the Jets for a one-year deal, then be traded either after the new year, before the trade deadline, or during the off-season. Much like what happened to another client of Trouba's agent, Kurt Overhardt's recently:
In 2011, Brandon Dubinsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets held out from the Phoenix Coyotes only to later sign a deal worth $3.7 million, and then get traded to Columbus. All within a few weeks of re-signing.
Trouba will be traded. It may not (but probably) be this year, but he will no longer be a member of the Winnipeg Jets come July 1, 2017. Let's just hope Chevy can swing a deal like he did with Buffalo that brought the Jets Myers, Stafford and Brendon Lemieux. Whatever deal he can swing, let's hope he doesn't give in and whatever deal he can partner into, let's hope it benefits the Jets for years to come.
