Rangers’ Jacob Trouba wins Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award

New York Rangers’ defenseman Jacob Trouba was named the 2023-24 recipient of the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award on Tuesday.

The award recipient is Messier’s choice after he takes suggestions from team and NHL personnel to compile a list of potential candidates for the award.

According to the NHL’s media release, the award “is presented to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”

Trouba, the Rangers’ captain since 2020, scored three goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 69 games. In 11 NHL seasons, Trouba has scored 73 goals and 236 assists for 309 points in 748 games played.

The league’s media release continued to list Trouba’s off-ice contributions to charity and more.

“Away from the rink, Trouba has been a staple in the metropolitan New York youth hockey community, including participation in the annual Rangers Youth Hockey Camp,” the statement read. “The weeklong camp for boys and girls ages 6-to-12 years old takes place at rinks across the Tri-State area and includes on- and off-ice training sessions focused on inspiring the next generation of hockey players.

“The Rangers captain’s outreach efforts extend beyond New York via his involvement with AstraZeneca’s ‘Get Body Checked Against Cancer’ campaign, part of the NHL and NHLPA’s joint Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Trouba, who has dealt with cancer in his family, is featured in the campaign alongside his mother, Kristy. Together, they encourage fans to talk to their doctor and get regular screenings.”

Trouba was taken No. 9 overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. In June 2019, he was traded to the Rangers for Neal Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick.