Jacob Trouba is a defenseman for the New York Rangers. At the age of 25, Trouba is fast approaching his prime years, and if last season is any indication, they promise to be invaluable to his team.
Trouba has established himself as a big-bodied two-way defenseman. He has an impressive heavy shot, intelligence in the heat of the game and great physicality. His ability to provide assists ensures that he can play a major role in setup play.
Trouba is currently carrying the most defensive responsibility of his career. He is one of the senior defensemen on the Rangers roster and is part of a long-term rebuild taking place that aims at taking the Rangers back to the playoffs and beyond. While sports betting news won’t be overrun with Rangers articles at this point, there is certainly potential in this team.
Looking at Trouba’s career to-date will help to understand what type of impact he can have with the Rangers as well as where his career could take him.
Early career
Born in Rochester, Michigan on 26 February 1994, Trouba would spend most of his development in the State. He played two seasons for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in the United States Hockey League. This is a team for elite ice hockey players under the age of 18. There is an under 17 and an under 18 side. The USNTDP is based in Plymouth, Michigan.
In his under 17 season of 2010-2011, Trouba would play 31 games, scoring three goals and four assists. While his performances didn’t initially draw much attention, he was still selected to play for the United States at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Here he excelled in five games, scoring two goals and providing seven assists. He also appeared for the United States at the 2011 IIHF U18 World Championship, winning gold with the Championship with the team.
The following season for the under 18 side would gather Trouba more widespread recognition. In the 2011-2012 season, he played 22 games, scoring four goals and 14 assists. This form earned him a selection in the 2011-2012 USHL All-Star game. Trouba also represented the United States at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship. The United States defended their Championship title successfully, with Trouba playing six games, with two assists and one goal.
By this point, Trouba was drawing interest from some of the top franchises. In the 2012 NHL Draft, Trouba was selected ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets. Trouba wouldn’t make his Jets debut in the 2012-2013 season. Instead, he played for the University of Michigan. Here he continued to impress. He played 37 games, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists. This earned him selection in the 2012-2013 All-CCHA Rookie Team, All-CCHA First Team, AHCA West First-Team All-American, and CCHA All-Tournament Team. He was also awarded the 2012-2013 All-CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman award.
The 2012-2013 season was good enough for Trouba to be called up to the Jets’ first team for the 2013-2014 season. Looking at his stats, any NHL sports betting fan would be optimistic about the potential that Trouba possesses.
Winnipeg Jets
At the age of 19, Trouba made a scoring NHL debut for the Jets against the Edmonton Oilers on 1 October 2013. His rookie season was impressive. He played 65 games, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists. He achieved this despite being sidelined for a month after crashing into the boards in a game against the St. Louis Blues. The Jets failed to make the playoffs that season.
In the 2014-2015 season, Trouba continued to show that he had what it takes to be a top NHL defenseman. He played 65 games, scoring seven goals and providing 15 assists. That season the Jets would make the playoffs, with Trouba playing four games with two assists.
The 2015-2016 season saw Trouba play in almost all of the Jets’ games. He played 81 games, scoring six goals and 15 assists. The Jets would fail to make the playoffs.
By September 2016, the first signs of a breakdown between the Jets’ office and Trouba began to emerge. He released a statement on 23 September requesting a trade. The statement indicated that it wasn’t down to money but because he wanted a greater role in the team. Sports betting trends favoured a move away from the Jets, but on 7 November, Trouba agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Jets.
Trouba repaid the Jets’ faith in the 2016-2017 season. He played 60 games, scoring eight goals and 25 assists. It was the first time in his career that he earned more than 30 points in a season. Despite this, the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs.
The 2017-2018 season took many NHL sports betting sites by surprise. Many Jets fans would have wished that they had checked the sports betting odds on the Jets making the Conference Final. They would have made a killing because the Jets made the Conference Final for the first time in their history.
Trouba played an important role that season in defence. He played 55 games, scoring three goals and 21 assists. In the playoffs he played 17 games, scoring two goals and 1 assist.
After the playoffs, the misalignment between the Jets and Trouba emerged again. Trouba’s contract was coming to an end, so he filed for salary arbitration. He was awarded a one-year extension with the Jets.
Once again, Trouba showed that he was worth the investment. The 2018-2019 season was the best in his career to date. He played 82 games, scoring eight goals and 42 assists. This gave him a points total of 50 for the season. While he’s not Bobby Orr, 50 points for a defenseman under the age of 25 is impressive.
The Jets made the playoffs, but this time the sports betting news would not be about their journey to the Conference Final. They were knocked out by the eventual winners, the Blues, in the first round.
After the season, with Troupa’s contract coming to an end, there were once again breakdowns in negotiations with the Jets. This time, the sports betting trends were accurate and the Jets traded Trouba to the New York Rangers.
New York Rangers
On 19 July 2019, Trouba signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers. For Trouba, this finally gave him a long term contract. With Trouba having just had his career-best season, the terms were also favourable. The Rangers for their part are in the process of a squad rebuild. Adding Trouba, still, only 25, ensures that the long term plan has begun by shoring up the defence.
This season, the Rangers haven’t quite found the form to head back to the playoffs. Trouba has performed well as a number 1 defenseman but has needed a bit more from his defensive teammates.
He is perhaps not on course for another 50 point season, although the sports betting odds might make you hope he was. That being said, he is on course for a 40 point season, having already amassed 23 points from three goals and 16 assists.
For the Rangers, Trouba is a great fit. They have young defensemen in Nils Lundkvist and K’Andre Miller. Trouba has had an excellent experience so far in his career and could offer the right guidance to turn their potential into solid defence. Next season, the Rangers could be among many online sports betting picks.
Points where they matter
Trouba hit the ground running with his first Rangers game, scoring and providing two assists. For Rangers fans who enjoy live sports betting, this was a great debut to back. While this season hasn’t hit the heights, there is plenty for Rangers fans to look forward to.
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