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Rangers acquire Jacob Trouba from Jets for Neal Pionk

By Dave Stevenson

WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 12: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Blues defeated the Jets 4-3 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 12: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 12, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Blues defeated the Jets 4-3 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers have acquired Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets for Neal Pionk and the 20th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft.

The New York Rangers have been linked to Jacob Trouba for a long time. Needing a top pairing defenseman, they have been the favorites to trade for the Winnipeg Jets defenseman for a while. The inevitable has happened, as Trouba is now a member of the blue shirts.

In exchange for Trouba’s RFA rights, the Jets are receiving their own first round pick (given up in the Kevin Hayes trade at the trade deadline) and the rights to restricted free agent Neal Pionk. Trouba can be an unrestricted free agent as soon as next season if he so chooses.

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However, first the Rangers will try to woo him. They are eligible to sign him to an extension on July 1. It is expected they will sign Trouba to a long-term extension then. He immediately becomes their top defenseman. It took New York longer than expected, but it appears they have found their replacement for Ryan McDonagh as their franchise defenseman.

Trouba is coming off a career season. He has always had the potential to be a top pairing defenseman, but was blocked by Dustin Byfuglien. An injury to Byfuglien allowed Trouba to show what he could do. The end result? A career-high in points (50) and assists (42).

Meanwhile, the Jets get back their own first-round pick, which is the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Pionk is a restricted free agent defenseman who had 26 points during the 2018-19 season while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game.

Pionk was the Rangers’ top option on the power play, which is a role he likely won’t have with the Jets. Byfuglien currently occupies that role. However, Pionk could still be the second power play unit’s quarterback, depending on what else the Jets do.

Winnipeg must move on to deciding the futures of more of their free agents. Next on their list is Patrik Laine, followed by Kyle Connor. Each of them should command long-term deals, so it could be an interesting offseason up north. They managed to get their first-round pick back, which is the best thing that can be said for this otherwise unimpressive return for a very talented defenseman.

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The Rangers got their guy and got him at a darn good price. Theoretically, they gave up a few months of Kevin Hayes and a defenseman who happened to play 20 minutes a game on a bad team for Brendan Lemieux and Trouba. That’s some impressive work from general manager Jeff Gorton.

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