• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Winnipeg Jets

Could Jets Deal Trouba to Devils?

By Declan Schroeder June 6th, 2019

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Last month, we explored four potential teams the Winnipeg Jets could deal pending restricted free agent defenseman Jacob Trouba to, since the probability of him signing a long-term in Winnipeg is low.

Related: Trouba Targets: Four Teams the Winnipeg Jets Could Trade Him To

There hasn’t been much noise on Trouba since then; not publicly, at least. You can bet Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s heard some ringing in the past 30 days. However, as the June 21, 2019 NHL Entry Draft — the date the Jets should deal the d-man by so they can have a better picture of which UFAs and RFAs they can afford — inches ever-closer, talk is ramping up again. Trouba recently jumped to second, behind only the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Phil Kessel, on TSN’s Hockey Trade Bait List.

Jacob Trouba Winnipeg Jets
As the 2019 NHL Entry Draft nears, conversations on where the Jets could send Jacob Trouba are beginning to pick up again. (James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports)

To be in the running to attain the services of the top pairing, minute-eating, and physical 25-year-old, a team needs two things: the cap space to offer him $7-plus million dollars to patrol their blue line, and a good enough culture and/or market to convince him to sign a long term deal.

Devils Could Use a Shutdown Defenseman

The Metropolitan Division basement-dwelling Devils finished their forgettable 2018-19 season negative 53 in goal differential, and their d-corps is very much in a state of flux.

Will Butcher, Connor Carrick, and Mirco Mueller are all restricted free agents come July 1. Compounding that, Andy Greene and Sami Vatanen — second and third among Devils defensemen in average ice time in 2018-19 — are unrestricted free agents after the 2019-20 season.

Sami Vatanen New Jersey Devils
Sami Vatanen and the Devils’ d-corp could use someone of Trouba’s calibre. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Without any top-tier defensive prospects in their system, one can see how a player such as Trouba — who is entering his prime, had a higher average ice time than any Devil, and put up a career-high 50 points in 2018-19 — would be exceedingly tempting to GM Ray Shero.

“The New Jersey Devils have never spent big in free agency under general manager Ray Shero, but that needs to change this offseason…” wrote The Hockey Writers’ own Alex Chauvancy wrote recently. “They… need more talent, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since they have the first-overall pick at the Entry Draft.”

Devils Have the Dough

The Devils have the capability to do that big spending this summer. When you take a look at the Devils’ salary cap info, a Jets/Devils trade makes even more sense.

A team that makes a lot of sense for a Jacob Trouba trade: #NJDevils

1. I expect an aggressive offseason to try to convince Taylor Hall to stay.

2. They have those extra 2nd round picks to dangle this year – three in total.

3. Tons of cap space to sign an extension.

— Brennan Klak (@nhlupdate) May 31, 2019

The “tons of cap space” Brennan Klak refers to is truly that: a ton. As of this writing, their cap hit is $47.4 million, which means they have a whopping $35.6 million to work with. They have the second-highest projected cap space, behind only the Colorado Avalanche.

A big chunk of that will likely up going to Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, who is “in no rush to sign an extension” but whose agent is in regular talks with Shero, a recent report reveals. Even if Hall were to sign this offseason, though, Shero would still have plenty of room to offer Trouba a hefty sum, a sum the Jets cannot.

Devils Have What Jets (Should) Want

The Jets’ “first wave” of prospects — Nikolaj Ehlers, Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Patrik Laine — have aged, or are about to age out of, their entry level contracts. The former three already have long-term deals and the latter two are about to get serious raises that better reflect their skills than the paltry sums they’ve made over the past three seasons.

Mark Scheifele Kyle Connor
The Jets’ first wave of prospects are all grown up. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s time the Jets’ organization begins piling up prospects again. One result of being a Cup contender and in “compete now” mode has been that they’ve traded away their first-round pick for two straight seasons: one for Paul Stastny last February and one for Kevin Hayes this February. As a result, they don’t have as much in the system.

“For a draft-and-development franchise, restocking the prospect shelves has to be a big priority right now,” the Winnipeg Free Press’ Mike McIntyre recently wrote (from ‘Jets GM clears the decks to make way for hard work to come before draft,’ Winnipeg Free Press, 06/03/19.)

General manager Ray Shero
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 25: General manager Ray Shero has three second-round picks the Jets might want. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

No team may be better equipped to help the Jets do that than the Devils. In addition to possessing the first-overall pick — which they’ll use to draft Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko, depending on who you ask — they possess a trio of second-round picks: 34th, 55th, and 62nd overall.

Trouba’s worth more than a second-round pick or two; the Devils would have to give the Jets an NHL-ready player to make a deal work. It’s tough to see the Jets not asking for back-end help of their own, especially if they opt to let UFA Tyler Myers walk.

The Winnipeg Sun’s Ken Wiebe suggested Damon Severson as a suitable return. The 24-year-old right-hander’s spent five seasons with the Devils since being drafted in 2012, and is from Manitoba, to boot.

“Trouba is the more advanced and complete player, but Severson would give the Jets cost certainly at $4.167 million for the next four seasons,” Wiebe wrote (from ‘Who might make Jets best offer for Trouba,’ Winnipeg Sun, 06/04/19.)

Damon Severson #28
Damon Severson’s someone the Jets could target in exchange for Trouba, Wiebe said. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Trouba to the Devils is a compelling case, and the more suitors the Jets have for him, the better. Whoever they end up dealing him to — the Devils, the four we explored last month, or someone else — they should take the best offer they get before the draft. The Trouba saga has gone on long enough, and it’s time for it to end so they can move on other things.

  • Tags
  • Jacob Trouba
  • NHL Trade Rumors
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 26th 5:05 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Unlikely to Call Up Former Fan Favourite Darling

Jan 26th 4:40 PM
Archives

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2020-21 Season Update

Jan 26th 4:32 PM
Archives

Jimmy Howard’s Red Wings Legacy

Jan 26th 4:25 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Not Playing to Full Potential in Comeback Wins

Jan 26th 4:15 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Mediocre Avalanche Road Trip Plagued by Inconsistency

Jan 26th 4:05 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Coach Ralph Krueger is a Jack of All Trades

Jan 26th 3:55 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Cap Issues Look Less Problematic After 6 Games

Jan 26th 3:45 PM
Women's Hockey

Metropolitan Riveters Impress In Lake Placid With Undefeated Weekend

Jan 26th 3:25 PM
Column

Prospects News & Rumors: Kravtsov, Bracco & ECHL

Jan 26th 3:15 PM
Commentary

NHL Should Eliminate the Shootout & Finish Games With 3-on-3 Overtime

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information