Boston Bruins: Trading for Jacob Trouba Would be Smart

Boston Bruins: Trading for Jacob Trouba Would be Smart to Start Re-Building Defense

At this point, it’s no secret that the Jacob Trouba-trade rumors have intensified throughout the National Hockey League. It’s also no secret that the Boston Bruins’ dire need for more defenseman has intensified by the day after two straight years of missing the playoffs.

As many look toward Keith Yandle and free agency as the way to fix the defensive problem that the Bruins have, it may not be enough. It has also been reported by CSNNE.com’s Joe Haggerty that the Bruins’ preferred route is not free agency.

Therefore, the way to go may be via trade, and is there a better defenseman to trade for than Trouba?

Trouba was picked 9th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2012 and was thought of as the future of the franchise. He was overly hyped after his rookie year, when he logged 10 goals and 19 assists which equated to 29 points. That was in a span of 65 games. In his sophomore season, both his goals (7) and assists (15) went down, while his plus/minus did as well, going from a +4 to a +2. Not a big difference, but still a decrease.

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Last year, his third year in the league, was supposed to be big. In the words of Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, it was supposed to be “YUUUUUGE”. But unfortunately, things didn’t pan out that way.

In 81 games, he only scored 6 goals and racked-up 15 assists, which brought his point tally down 1 from the year prior, yet he played in more games. On the bright side, his plus/minus was a +10. For a team that was ranked in the bottom-10 for goals against (2.88), that +10 looks pretty good.

At any rate, many are starting to become weary of his offensive numbers and are having second thoughts with regard to him being a future Norris Trophy contender, as well as him being the future of the franchise. With the Jets finishing 11th in the Western Conference last year, it may be time for a change of scenery for Trouba.

Also, the Jets will probably not comply with Trouba’s leaked-requested contract of $56 million over 8 years. In no way, shape, or form has Trouba done anything to even come close to deserving that contract.

With Trouba on the trade-market and the Bruins needing a fast, highly-skilled defenseman, he would be the perfect fit.

For one, Trouba would not require a huge overhaul in return, or at least not as much as a player like Kevin Shattenkirk, Hampus Lindholm, or Tyson Barrie would require.

To get Trouba, the B’s would most likely have to give up their 14th overall pick in this year’s Draft, as well as other draft picks, or actual players.

The Jets ranked in the bottom-10 in goals-for (2.59), so some added help on offense could definitely help. Players such as Seth Griffith, Noel Acciari, or Austin Czarnik could go back in the deal. Another position that has many questions surrounding it for the Jets is goaltending. The Bruins could give up Zane McIntyre, Jeremy Smith, or Malcolm Subban as well. All three goalies have tremendous potential and could easily attract the Jets (more Smith and McIntyre than Subban).

What Trouba would bring to the Bruins would be a solid, right-shot defenseman, who moves the puck well and is getting much better at playing with and without the puck in his own zone. He also has a tough aspect to his game as well. With 61 penalty-minutes and 144 hits last year, you can expect him to always be mixing it up with opposing team’s top lines, as well as moving the puck quickly and efficiently up ice.

If Trouba doesn’t get traded from Winnipeg, he will most likely play under the shadow of Dustin Byfuglien — a pretty big one may I add — for a good chunk of his career. By coming to Boston, he would be able to move into the number-one defenseman’s role and be mentored from Zdeno Chara (if the Bruins don’t trade him).

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Trouba may not solve every problem on defense for the Bruins, but he will most certainly solve a good amount of them. Out of all of the major defenseman on the trading block, Trouba requires the Bruins to give up the least, which means they don’t have to greatly subtract from one aspect of the team to add to another. There will be subtraction, however it would be prospects and not players who have a current, consistent role with the team.Trouba would be given the opportunity to blossom into one of the game’s best young defenseman, and create a seismic shift in a stagnant franchise.