Rangers trade captain Jacob Trouba to Ducks

The New York Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday in exchange for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The Ducks will take on the full remaining salary for Trouba, the veteran defenseman who had fallen out of favor in New York as the front office eyed a shake-up.

"Jacob is a highly respected player in this league whose character and leadership qualities on and off the ice are second to none," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "We believe Jacob has many more years in this league and hope he is a big part of our future success. It's rare you are able to acquire a player with Jacob's experience, stature and ability. On the ice he competes every shift, leads by example and is a presence on the blue line every night."

It was reported earlier in the day that the Rangers were prepared to trade Trouba -- or waive him if no trading partner was found. The veteran defenseman was going to be a healthy scratch for Friday night's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trouba, 30, reportedly waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the move.

"I want to sincerely thank Jacob for his contributions to the Rangers and our community," Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. "Jacob has been an example on and off the ice for our organization and played a major role in our success over the last several years. Since coming to New York five years ago, and serving as Captain for the last three seasons, he has demonstrated grit, toughness and tremendous leadership and we can't thank Jacob enough for everything he has done for the Rangers."

Trouba has zero goals and six assists in 24 games this season. He led New York with 68 blocks while averaging 20 minutes in ice time.

He is in the sixth season of a seven-year, $56 million contract signed in July 2019 and carries an $8 million cap hit.

Trouba has 315 points (73 goals, 242 assists) in 772 games with the Winnipeg Jets (2013-19) and Rangers. The Jets drafted him ninth overall in 2012.

The free-falling Rangers (13-10-1) have dropped six of their last seven games, most recently a 5-1 home setback to the rival New Jersey Devils on Monday.

The Rangers recalled defenseman Victor Mancini, 22, from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday morning.

Vaakanainen, 25, was a first-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins in 2017 and has not yet reached the NHL. He has not played in the AHL this year due to an upper-body injury that's kept him on injured reserve.

--Field Level Media