The New York Rangers have traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks after weeks of rumors that the defenseman was on the block.

The deal calls for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick to return to the Rangers.

New York will not retain any salary from Trouba, who has a cap hit of $8 million through next season.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that Trouba’s agent Kurt Overhardt has been working “particularly hard” with Rangers general manager Chris Drury over the past 24 hours to find a solution.

Overhardt received permission from the Rangers to speak to multiple teams.

“I would like to sincerely thank Jacob for his contributions to the Rangers and our community,” Drury said in a statement. “Jacob was a role model for our organization on and off the ice and has contributed significantly to our success in recent years. Since arriving in New York five years ago and serving as captain for the past three seasons, he has shown courage, toughness and great leadership, and we can’t thank Jacob enough for everything he has done for the Rangers did.

Vaakanainen, 25, has one assist in five games for the Ducks this season. Last year he scored one goal and 14 points in 68 games. Selected 18th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2017 draft, Vaakanainen is a pending restricted free agent with a $1.1 million cap hit this season.

LeBrun reported earlier Friday that the Rangers had “multiple deals on the table” for Trouba but needed approval to waive his modified no-trade clause. Multiple reports suggested that waivers would have been a possibility for Trouba had he chosen not to waive. Although rumors suggested that was a possibility, the Rangers did not place Trouba on waivers on Friday.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post first reported Friday morning that Trouba was not expected to practice Friday and would not be in the lineup for New York’s game against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. He cited “roster management” to keep Trouba off the ice.

Trouba has six assists in 24 games this season for the struggling Rangers, who are in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 13-10-1.

Drury causes a long-awaited stir

Brooks reported in June that the Rangers were close to sending Trouba to the Detroit Red Wings, but it never materialized. Trouba’s no-move clause was converted to a 15-team no-trade clause on July 1.

“I had good communication with the organization throughout. I don’t really have much else to comment,” Trouba said of the offseason rumors in September. “A lot of things have been said and become blurred. …You have to find out where they came from. If you find out, let me know.”

The 30-year-old American, as well as other notable Rangers names, were rumored to be available late last month as New York fell down the table.

“Rangers general manager Chris Drury is open for business, he has communicated this to other GMs around the league,” TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said on November 26th. “He specifically mentioned Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider as experienced Rangers players” that he would be willing to move on given the right circumstances.

“I think this coming to light in the last day or two has sent a shockwave through the Rangers dressing room. Moving one of these players is not a simple transaction. Both have 15-team no-trade clauses in their contracts, so there could be a situation where the team would have to try to work with one of these players to get them to move.

“The mere fact that they are publicly known among other Rangers players reveals a little about the situation in New York that might surprise some people. Looking at the rankings, the Rangers hold a playoff spot. At this point, however, there was general dissatisfaction with the performance of some of the Rangers’ veteran players this season. They have lost three games in a row and management is now considering other options to remedy the situation.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger said on Insider Trading two days later that Kaapo Kakko’s name had also resurfaced in trade rumors.

After reaching the Eastern Conference finals in two of the last three seasons, the Rangers have been underwhelming in 2024-25 and currently sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 13-10-1.

The 30-year-old American and other notable Rangers names are rumored to be available if New York falls down the table.

Trouba has recorded just six assists in 24 games this season, his sixth in New York. He is currently in the sixth year of a seven-year, $56 million contract with an average annual value of $8 million

Considered one of the NHL’s most physical blueliners, Trouba was named the 28th captain in Rangers history prior to the 2022-23 season.

Trouba was originally selected ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2012 NHL Draft and has recorded 73 goals and 242 assists in 772 career games for the Jets and Rangers. He has four goals and 15 assists in 73 career playoff games.

The Rangers called up defenseman Victor Mancini from the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack on Friday morning to replace Trouba until a trade was completed.