The Winnipeg Jets have traded restricted free agent defenseman Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers for restricted free agent defenseman Neal Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick, which originally belonged to the Jets.
The 25-year old Trouba was drafted 9th overall in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Jets.
The 23-year old Pionk was undrafted.
Thoughts from the media
Elliotte Friedman: “No conditional picks to WIN if Trouba re-signs. NYR were not allowed to talk to him. Eligible for extension on July 1.”
Pierre LeBrun: “Trouba gets dealt without an extension in place but the Rangers will want to take care of that as soon as possible, no question”
Murat Ates: “My own expectation of a return was not high: a 1st round pick, a B grade prospect, perhaps a bottom-end defenceman. In Neal Pionk, the Jets acquire a player who, at 23 and just finished his first full season in the NHL, is a bottom end RD at 5-on-5 with power play ability.”
Murat Ates: “Positives: Pionk’s puck skills on the power play are real, he’s young-ish (24 this July), and Winnipeg will have a much better opportunity to retain his services than they did Trouba. He’s an NHL defenceman. But between him and 20 OV, the return is underwhelming to me.”
Rick Carpiniello: “Didn’t think the Rangers could get Trouba for a package like this, so I honestly didn’t think they would get him at all.”
Mike McIntryre: “Neal Pionk is a 23-year-old RHD who had 6G, 20A in 73 games. Like Jacob Trouba, he is a restricted free agent. #NHLJets also get their original 1st-round draft pick back (20th overall) which they sent to the Big Apple for Kevin Hayes in February.”
Andy Graziano: “Damn steal for Jeff Gorton. Wow.”
Danny Webster: “Am I alone in thinking Winnipeg could’ve gotten more?”
Charlie O’Connor: “I didn’t think Winnipeg was going to get nearly as much back for Trouba as their fans seemed to think they would, but man, Pionk is just not very good. I guess the Jets are much higher on him than I am.”
Jason Gregor: “So essentially the Jets traded Trouba and Lemieux to the Rangers for Pionk and 20 games of Hayes. They gave up their 1st rounder to get Hayes, but just got it back. Good move for Rangers. Jets needed to clear cap space as Trouba wasn’t signing long-term.”
Jason Gregor: “Pionk can play 3rd pair minutes easily for the Jets and could be top-four down the road. I suspect Jets will now try to re-sign Myers before Monday.”
Matt Larkin: “Wow. Rangers front office having an outstanding year.”
JJ Regan: “Trading a first and Pionk for Trouba doesn’t sound like a move a rebuilding team would make. NYR showing before free agency that they are done rebuilding.”
John Matisz: “Legit interested to see how the Jets spin this Trouba trade. Return is underwhelming, to say the least…”
Neal McHale: “This meh return on this trade signals something to me: That the Jets were legitimately concerned about offer sheets. Could this finally be the summer of them?”
Jason Brough: “Huge for the Jets that they get a right shot D (Pionk) in Trouba trade. At the very least, makes it easier to let Myers walk.”
Ian Tulloch: “WOAH, looks like Trouba leveraging his way out of Winnipeg really lowered his value on the trade market.”
Jacob Trouba
Neal Pionk