{"id":164256,"date":"2026-02-04T23:04:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T23:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/164256\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T23:04:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T23:04:11","slug":"ex-rangers-captain-jacob-trouba-throws-shade-having-more-fun-in-anaheim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/164256\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Rangers captain Jacob Trouba throws shade, ‘having more fun’ in Anaheim"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York Rangers News<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Jacob Trouba is enjoying brighter days with the Anaheim Ducks \u2014 and that\u2019s not just reflective of the warmer California climate. To help emphasize that point, Trouba took a jab at his former team, the New York Rangers, on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

The former Rangers captain scored his ninth goal of the season in a 4-2 Ducks victory over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, helping them win for the ninth time in 11 games (9-2-0). With 26 games left to play this season, Trouba is two goals away from tying his career high of 11 \u2014 set with the Rangers in 2021-22. He scored one goal in 77 games with the Rangers and Ducks last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think playing a little looser,\u201d Trouba told the NHL on TNT studio panel postgame. \u201cTo be honest with you, I\u2019m having a little bit more fun than I\u2019ve had the past couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

That comment, and subtle dig at the Rangers, should come as no surprise. Trade rumors<\/a>, injuries, and subpar play muddied Trouba\u2019s final two seasons in New York. When general manager Chris Drury threatened to place the veteran defenseman on waivers in December 2024, Trouba waived his 15-team no-trade clause and accepted a trade to Anaheim<\/a>, stamping an unceremonious end to his six-year tenure on Broadway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s been refreshing for me \u2014 coming to the rink with a smile on my face and excited to show up to practice and put in the work and be around the guys here,\u201d Trouba continued. \u201cThe young guys are pretty infectious. It\u2019s pretty fun to be around this group, and it\u2019s something I\u2019m really enjoying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weather aside, there\u2019s no argument that Anaheim is the more attractive destination at present. As the Rangers continue their spiral down the NHL standings<\/a>, the Ducks hold a playoff spot, sitting third in the Pacific Division with 63 points.<\/p>\n

In Trouba\u2019s case, it doesn\u2019t hurt to pair with an Olympian in Team USA defender Jackson Lacombe. Trouba logged over 477 minutes at even strength alongside the 25-year-old \u2014 by far the most of any partner this season. His 22:35 average TOI is the highest for Trouba since 2018-19 with the Winnipeg Jets (22:53).<\/p>\n

\u201cComing here last year, I think I knew who he was, but I\u2019d never really watched him play,\u201d Trouba admitted. \u201cPretty quickly, you see the ability he has. Getting to play with him is pretty special. He makes the right plays, always in the right spot; he covers my butt a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob Trouba makes latest jab at Rangers<\/p>\n

\"NHL:Sergei Belski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time Trouba hinted at some grievances toward his former squad.<\/p>\n

When the Rangers traveled out west to play the Ducks in January, the 31-year-old piped circus music into Anaheim\u2019s locker room, when the New York media waited outside .<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been told this was Jacob Trouba\u2019s doing \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n

Rangers media happened to be waiting outside the locker room at that moment, and I\u2019m totally sure it wasn\u2019t related at all, right?#FlyTogether<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/XFIO8tmw1K<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Zach Cavanagh (@ZachCav) January 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

During his introductory press conference with Anaheim last season, Trouba quipped, \u201cIt\u2019s a rite of passage to get fired at MSG.\u201d<\/p>\n

Safe to say, there\u2019s no love lost between the two sides \u2014 and that extends to a Blueshirts fanbase that isn\u2019t thrilled by Trouba\u2019s latest remarks.<\/p>\n

I really can’t think of a Ranger\/former Ranger that I despise as much as Jacob Trouba. <\/p>\n

Those couple of years he’s talking about? They include the best regular season record in Rangers franchise history and two trips to the ECF. Yeah, no fun there.<\/p>\n

He wasn’t as good as he\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/9WGcjBIoc2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eric Kohn \ud83e\udd43 (@iEricKohn) February 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

As Rangers captains know all too well, the spotlight is quite bright in New York. Just ask J.T. Miller.<\/a> Add in Trouba\u2019s sizeable seven-year contract worth $8 million annually,<\/a> and it\u2019s no wonder the polarizing defenseman was a frequent source of fans\u2019 irritation.<\/p>\n

Trouba was a key contributor on a Blueshirts squad that reached the Eastern Conference Final twice in three seasons, also captaining the 2023-24 Rangers to the Presidents\u2019 Trophy and taking home the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award the same season.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say that his playoff performances were flawless. <\/p>\n

Trouba labored through a broken ankle in 2024 \u2014 which saw a \u201ckidney bean-sized chunk\u201d fall off the bone \u2014 and his results noticeably suffered. Despite recording a goal and seven points in 16 games, Trouba was a detriment on the ice over six games against the Florida Panthers in the conference final. His misplay on Sam Bennett\u2019s first-period goal at 19:10 in Game 6 played a big role in New York\u2019s postseason elimination.<\/p>\n

Just to dive into this questionable decision by Trouba here a bit more:<\/p>\n

Aside from it being the wrong decision because it takes him out of position as the RHD, he’s also trying to check a player that doesn’t have the puck, which is interference.<\/p>\n

1\/2pic.twitter.com\/5VFSJWD84T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stat Boy Steven \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@StatBoy_Steven) June 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Given the circumstances, it\u2019s likely that both parties are better off separated.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s clear Trouba is enjoying having the better end of things, at least this season.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"avatar\"<\/p>\n

\t\tLou Orlando is an alum of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons as … More about Lou Orlando<\/a><\/p>\n

Add Forever Blueshirts as a Preferred Source on Google.\"Add<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t