Jacob Trouba

As a youth, Trouba played in the 2007 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team.[1] He later played two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and at several international tournaments.[2] He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, ninth overall of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[2]

Trouba playing for the Wolverines.

After finishing his junior hockey career, Trouba joined the University of Michigan for the 2012–13 season, where he played in 37 games for the Wolverines in his first season, scoring 12 goals and 17 assists.[3] At the end of the season, Trouba was named a First Team All-American and was also honored as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's (CCHA) Best Offensive Defenseman. He was also named first team All-CCHA and an All-CCHA Rookie.[4] Trouba was also named as the team's Most Valuable Player and Best Defenseman.[4] He was the only freshman on the All-American team as well as being the first freshman in the history of the University of Michigan hockey to be named a First Team All-American.[5] At the conclusion of his freshman campaign, Trouba announced he was leaving the team to begin his professional career with the Jets.[6]

Trouba with the Winnipeg Jets in 2014.

On October 1, 2013, Trouba played his first career NHL game for the Jets, scoring his first NHL goal against Devan Dubnyk of the Edmonton Oilers. He also added an assist in the game and was named the game's first star.[7] During his rookie season, 2013–14, Trouba missed over a month of action after he was injured when he fell into the boards during a game against the St. Louis Blues. He remained upbeat in the aftermath of his injury, updating fans on Twitter by saying, "If you were wondering, the boards are not edible. I'll be back soon."[8][9]

On September 23, 2016, Trouba released a statement through his agent stating that he had requested a trade from the Jets.[10] However, on November 7, he agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract extension with the Jets.[11]

Following the Jets' successful 2018 playoffs in which the team reached the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, Trouba filed for salary arbitration. On July 22, 2018, he was awarded a one-year, $5.5 million extension with the Jets.[12] Trouba finished the 2018–19 regular season with 50 points,[13] and was one of only three defensemen under 25 to score 50 points or more, along with Morgan Rielly and Thomas Chabot.[14]

Following the 2018–19 season, Trouba and the Jets were once again unable to come to terms on an extension. On June 17, 2019, Trouba was traded by the Jets to the New York Rangers in exchange for Neal Pionk and Winnipeg's own first round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, which had been previously acquired by the Rangers in exchange for the Jets receiving Kevin Hayes.[15] On July 19, as a restricted free agent, Trouba agreed before his arbitration hearing to a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Rangers, worth an average annual value of $8 million.[16]

Trouba scored his first goal for the Rangers, as well as two assists, during the 2019–20 season opener on October 3 against his former team, the Winnipeg Jets.[17] Trouba tied a career-high in points,[18] and he became the first defenseman to register three points in a Rangers debut.[19] Trouba was involved in a controversial hit on Michael Dal Colle in a game against the New York Islanders on February 25, 2020.[20]