Standing in front of his locker inside MSG Training Center, after the Rangers’ first official on-ice session of training camp on Thursday, Jacob Trouba proclaimed that his summer was great.
He took some nice trips.
His artwork was featured in a gallery for the first time.
He got to be with his baby boy, Axel.
The slight uneasiness that exuded from Trouba, however, told a different story.
One that so many athletes go through at least once in their careers.
The Rangers looked to trade their captain at the start of the offseason and there their captain was on Day 1 of training camp.
So, from Trouba’s perspective, what happened?
“Not a whole lot, a lot of words,” he said. “Had good communication with the organization throughout. Don’t really have much to comment on. There’s a lot of things that were said and snowballed and I don’t know, you’re going to have to figure out where they came from. If you find out, let me know.
“I’m excited to be here. Happy to be back in the room with this group and this coaching staff. We’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us this year.”
No, it did not hurt his feelings.
No, there were no fences to be mended.
No, there isn’t any animosity between him and Rangers management.
So the 11-year veteran said.
But no, he probably wouldn’t have said otherwise.
Trouba was blunt in explaining that he was well aware there was a chance he could be traded this offseason.
That’s what happens when a no-move clause is modified to a 15-team no-trade list.
It was all pretty standard, said Trouba, who went as far to say that the summer unfolded the way he expected it to.
The broken ankle that sidelined Trouba for 11 games in March — and presumably hindered him toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs — didn’t affect his offseason training.
And no, Trouba said the offseason drama does not give him an added chip on his shoulder.
Playing into cliches is not Trouba’s way.
It never has been since the defenseman walked into the Blueshirts locker room.
Leading by example is how Trouba conducts himself, and the 30-year-old did so as usual on Thursday.
He acknowledged how rare and special it is for this Rangers core to have yet another year to try to win a Stanley Cup together, but followed it with what everybody in the organization already knows:
“In all likelihood, this will probably be the last crack for this core,” he said. “I don’t think that’s a secret by any means. We’re a group that’s grown together, spent some years together here and we have something we want to accomplish.”
With one year remaining on his contract after this upcoming season, Trouba’s $8 million cap hit would be one of the easiest to move and free up space.
The thought process was the same this summer, but will presumably become necessary if the upcoming campaign once again ends in disappointment.
That goes for several other longtime Rangers, too.
For now, the 2024-25 Rangers look a heck of a lot like the 2023-24 Rangers — and that includes the captain.
“I wanted to stay here,” Trouba said. “I want to be here. I like living here. I love New York. My family loves it here, as everybody is now aware. I think, as a whole, it’s where I want to be. I’m happy to be here and excited to be back for the start of the season.”
