**Maple Leafs Named Trade Suitor for Rangers’ $56 Million Star**
The New York Rangers have asked Jacob Trouba for his 15-team no-trade list ahead of free agency, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are already linked to the defenseman. According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic on June 27, following Chris Johnston’s “Trade Big Board” update on June 26, the Rangers might move Trouba as his no-movement clause shifts to a 15-team no-trade clause on July 1.
Johnston ranked Trouba as the No. 14 best-available-for-trade player, noting that the Rangers might trade him to balance their defense. On June 27, Staple and Peter Baugh identified the Maple Leafs as a top trade fit for Trouba.
“Big, right-shot defensemen like Trouba always entice teams. The Maple Leafs, tight against the salary cap, might be interested, especially if they can’t land Chris Tanev. They need help on the right side,” they wrote.
The question remains whether Trouba would waive his no-trade clause for Toronto. Trouba might be hesitant to join a Canadian team, potentially including all seven Canadian franchises on his no-trade list.
“Trouba might not want to go to a Canadian market. All seven Canadian clubs could be on his no-trade list. We’re pretty sure Winnipeg’s on there,” Staple and Baugh noted.
**Why Is Jacob Trouba Available for Trade?**
Rangers’ captain Trouba had a mixed 2023-24 season, scoring 3 goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 69 regular-season games, plus 1 goal and 6 assists in 16 playoff games. The Rangers were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the conference finals.
Trouba has two years left on his seven-year, $56 million contract, which includes an $8 million annual salary. His no-move clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list on July 1, allowing him to veto trades to those teams.
Trading Trouba would free up his $8 million salary for the Rangers. They acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets in June 2019 and named him captain in August 2022. Johnston described Trouba as a strong, physical player who would be an asset for most teams, though he may be a luxury for the Rangers due to their depth with Adam Fox and Braden Schneider on the right side.
**Maple Leafs Looking to Improve Defense**
The potential fit between the Leafs and Trouba aligns with Toronto’s reported desire to add size to their defense this offseason. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on June 19 that the Leafs are targeting bigger defensemen, mentioning Vancouver Canucks’ Nikita Zadorov and St. Louis Blues’ Colton Parayko as specific targets.
PuckPedia projects the Maple Leafs to have $19.7 million in cap space entering the offseason, but they currently have only four defensemen under contract. Among their pending free agents, only Timothy Liljegren is a restricted free agent, with six others becoming unrestricted free agents.
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