‘The page has already been turned.’ Facing Rangers for first time, Trouba embracing life as a Duck

Mar 28, 2025, 16:24 EDT

Credit: Mar 14, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba (65) skates against the Nashville Predators during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Ryan Sun-Imagn Images

Over the past three months, life has been very different for the former New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba. Friday night, he will face his former team for the first time since being traded from the Rangers to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6, 2024.

“I don’t know, I guess it’s a little different,” Trouba said Friday. “Kind of just approaching it as another game. It was good to see some friends last night, but just another game.”

He told the media that he went out to dinner with a lot of his former teammates, but that the conversation was not about hockey, more just catching up with a group of men that he spent several years with in New York.

Trouba is a 31-year-old NHL veteran in his 12th season, but there hasn’t been a season quite like this one for him.

“Obviously, [this season] is a little rocky,” he said. “Even from the summer to today, it’s just been an interesting year for me for sure. Being away from family, all of those things kind of factor into it.”

This summer was a wild one for Trouba with how much his name was being thrown around the NHL as a potential trade candidate. At a certain point, nearly every single hockey platform was talking about him and his family, along with his decision to decline a trade, which would keep him in New York, knowing the Rangers were trying to get rid of him. After both parties finally agreed in the fall that it was best to move on, could tonight’s game finally give closure to the entire situation?

“I feel like the page has already been turned,” Trouba said. “I honestly do view it as just another game, it will be a little different, obviously, but yeah, I think I’ve moved past it. It takes some time, things happen in life, and it’s not like it turns the next day, but I think enough time has gone by that I’ve moved on, and everybody has moved on. I’m happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Ducks organization.”

As far as the lifestyle goes, it couldn’t be more night-and-day from living in New York City and playing for the Rangers. It’s unique to attend a morning skate and see the players in Anaheim pull up in their shorts and flip-flops. The environment is much more relaxed down in Orange County, Calif..

“It’s definitely different, I think going from Manhattan to anywhere is probably a bit different,” Trouba said. “It’s definitely a little bit slower, a little more relaxing, not as many horns, can breathe. It’s been good. Different weather, different kind of atmosphere, but it’s been good.”

He said so with a big smile. It will be interesting to see how the first matchup against his old team goes, but it’s fair to say that he has completely moved on from his time with the Rangers. That said, his former teammates should probably brace for impact. Whether he’s facing friends or foes, Trouba will always dole out the punishment.

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‘The page has already been turned.’ Facing Rangers for first time, Trouba embracing life as a Duck

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