GM Kyle Davidson expected Blackhawks ‘to be further’ before coaching change
Speaking one day after he fired coach Luke Richardson, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson said — while understanding the Hawks are very much still a rebuilding work in progress — the team has not performed to the level the organization expected.
Despite getting off to a 12-4-1 start to their season, there were red flags underlying the New York Rangers‘ results.
Despite a top-10 power play and one of the better penalty kills in the league, New York has been bleeding chances against, especially at 5-on-5 and in high-danger areas of the ice. Today, the Rangers sit last in shots against and 31st in the most dangerous opportunities against in that situation. Luckily for them, Igor Shesterkin and sensational backup Jonathan Quick had been able to patch over some of that struggle.
But things began taking an outward turn for the worse about a week and a half ago when reports surfaced that Rangers GM Chris Drury was looking at shaking things up and a couple of his veteran players saw their names hit the trade rumour mill. Chris Kreider, the longest-serving Ranger, was one. Jacob Trouba, the captain of the team who saw the end of his time with the Rangers coming when he noted this season would be the “last crack for this core” during training camp, was the other.
With things spiralling on the ice lately — New York now fourth in the division and holding the second wild card with as many points as the Philadelphia Flyers — the urgency for a shake-up peaked. A furious Friday began with news Victor Mancini was being called up from the AHL and rumblings that if Trouba didn’t accept a trade he could end up on waivers. When the 2:00 p.m. ET waiver time had passed without Trouba’s name coming across, trade speculation picked up, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks among those involved.
In the end, Trouba had some control over the situation, though not as much as in the past. More than a quarter of the way through the sixth year of a seven-year contract with the Rangers, Trouba’s deal went from having a no-movement clause in the first five years to a modified no-trade list. The threat of waivers meant he could still end up going somewhere he didn’t particularly desire.
Aside from on-ice factors, the Rangers also have had to consider the off-ice salary cap implications in this situation. Although the upper limit is expected to rise at least another $4.5 million next season, the most important piece of business the Rangers had to resolve this season was Shesterkin’s contract before the 28-year-old became a UFA next summer, and that increase wasn’t going to be enough to absorb his raise. With the prospect of the cap shooting up over $100 million soon after 2025-26, the goalie’s deal was always projected to be a market-setter for the position.
So, when the Rangers did officially trade Trouba to Anaheim on Friday afternoon — acquiring 25-year-old defenceman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in return — the most valuable addition New York received was the nearly $7 million in cap space since they didn’t retain any salary. Almost all of that was immediately re-invested in Shesterkin, who signed an eight-year extension with an $11.5 million AAV that made him the highest-paid goalie in the NHL, up from the $5.66 million he currently makes.
Of course, that contract doesn’t begin until next season, so the Rangers still have the additional cap space to use on this year’s roster. And, to be sure, the goal remains the same: last year’s Eastern Conference finalists expect to be competing as one of the favourites for the Stanley Cup again in 2025.
Friday’s trade will only be the beginning for New York as further moves are sure to come, more rumours will follow, and the players react to all of this in the days ahead. Friday’s events will have ripple effects on a roster that has been shaken at the core. The captain is gone, but the fact remains that they haven’t won a single game in their past seven tries.
With more on what the Ducks get in Trouba, and a scouting report on the newest defenceman in New York, we turn to our scout Jason Bukala.
SCOUT’S ANALYSIS
With Trouba being moved from the New York Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks, it marks the third Blueshirts captain in a row to be traded out of New York. Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan were both traded as well, coincidentally landing in Tampa Bay.
I’m having a difficult time wrapping my mind around how the Rangers went from a 12-4-1 start to the noisiest franchise in the NHL in the past couple of weeks. Suffice it to say the wheels have come off — the Rangers are 1-6-0 in their past seven games and have been outscored 29-15 in that time.
Things went south in a hurry when the team started shopping a couple of their veterans in Trouba and Chris Kreider. Outside chatter, and speculation, are never good for an organization or the players in the room. It makes for a very uncomfortable trip to work on a daily basis.
What Jacob Trouba brings to Anaheim
Trouba isn’t a perfect defender, but he keeps opponents on their toes with his physical presence. He averaged over 20 minutes of ice time over the past three seasons in New York. His offence has been trending down since his spot on one of the Rangers’ power play units was taken away last season, so now his primary ice time comes at even strength and the penalty kill. He’s a right-shot defenceman who matches up against top-nine forwards and plays a physically punishing game. Trouba has been credited with 449 hits and 447 shot blocks in his last 175 games played.
Once up to speed, Trouba’s pace isn’t an issue. But his first three steps, especially jumping to engage with his check in his zone, land in the bottom half of the league. His lack of jump in terms of “speed bursts” can lead to some challenging moments when attempting to defend in small areas in the defensive zone.
Trouba isn’t the kind of defenceman who will lead the rush on his own. His outlets are generally sound, but he won’t add an extra layer off the attack for the Ducks. Once his group establishes possession he’s most comfortable directing pucks on net from his strong side instead of working a “high/low” cycle or walking the line to open up more shooting lanes.
This graphic shows perfectly clearly how Trouba prefers to direct pucks on net in the offensive zone:
Overall, Anaheim is adding a veteran two-way defenceman with a mean streak. The Ducks now have an opportunity to roll out Radko Gudas (623 hits/338 shot blocks in his last 162 games) and Trouba over the boards on back-to-back shifts.
Anaheim immediately becomes a harder team to play against with the acquisition of Trouba.
What Urho Vaakanainen brings to the New York Rangers
Curiously, Vaakanainen was placed on injured reserve this week by the Ducks after he was limited to five games this season and hadn’t played since Nov. 13. Vaakanainen was a healthy scratch for a nine-game stretch and seemed to have fallen out of favour in Anaheim.
Vaakanainen was a first-round pick by the Boston Bruins (18th overall in 2017) who was traded to Anaheim as part of the Hampus Lindholm deal. He’s a two-way defenceman who provides some depth offence and capable defending. He isn’t as punishing as Trouba, but his small-area quickness is better and he moves pucks efficiently.
Since Vaakanainen has only played five games this season, I’ll share a couple of clips from 2023-24 that display what I’m describing about Vaakanainen’s small area quickness and puck play:
He averaged over 17 minutes of ice time last season, but that dropped to 13 minutes in his limited action this fall. All of Vaakanainen’s ice time comes at even strength and the penalty kill.
He’s a capable NHL blue liner who is more like a fifth defenceman rather than a top-four player, but he can slide into that role if required. For some perspective, Cam Fowler is a veteran defenceman for the Ducks who finished last season with a minus-36, while Vaakanainen finished a very respectable even zero in the same category.
Vaakanainen will be a restricted free agent next summer. His current cap hit is only $1.1 million, meaning the Rangers saved $6.9 million in cap space with this deal.
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