Jacob Trouba is one of the better New York Rangers defensemen and he has suffered an unfortunate hand injury. Trouba suffered the injury in the Rangers match up against the New Jersey Devils after being hit by a Will Butcher slapshot in the second period. Trouba left the game and did not return to the game. After the game, the Rangers announced that he would miss the next 4-6 weeks. It is an unfortunate time for Trouba to get hurt as it seemed like he was finally finding his stride with New York.
What the Rangers Will Be Missing With Jacob Trouba Out
Since joining the Rangers ahead of the 2019-20 season Trouba has been quite disappointing. Thus far Trouba has only contributed three assists in 14 games during the 2021 season which is well below his normal production. Despite his drop in offensive production, Trouba has definitely stepped up his physical game recently. With his rise in physicality, the Rangers will be missing a potential game-changing player that can contribute offensively and make an impact in the physical department.
How Will the Rangers Replace Trouba for the Next Month?
With the New York Rangers blue line being riddled with injuries they will have to call up some players from the taxi squad. The Rangers are going to be missing Jacob Trouba and Jack Johnson for a while. Rookie K’andre Miller is also injured but he should be returning soon.
With the Rangers missing two of their best defenseman in Miller and Trouba and a decent depth defenseman in Johnson the Rangers will have to play Anthony Bitetto, Libor Hajek, and Brendan Smith. Smith and Bitetto are veteran defensemen that have found themselves in the Rangers organization for the 2021 season. They are decent players but definitely not on par with Jacob Trouba. Hopefully, with an opportunity to play regular minutes Anthony Bitetto can seize the opportunity and score some more beautiful goals just like this.
Libor Hajek is an interesting player for the New York Rangers. The former 2016 second-round pick has only played five games this season. He only has one goal and five assists in his 38 game NHL career. Despite his lack of offensive ability, Hajek plays a more defensive and physical style that will make up for the physicality that Trouba brought to the Rangers lineup.
Final Thoughts
The loss of Jacob Trouba will definitely hurt the Rangers as he brought a physicality that not many other New York Rangers players possess. His offensive threat from the blueline will be missed for the next four to six weeks but Anthony Bitetto, Brendan Smith, and Libor Hajek will be there to step in to try and replace the void that Trouba leaves.
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