Trouba, Jets search for common ground in contract negotiations
Talks expected to take some time as they strive for long-term deal,
Jacob Trouba is on record to suggest he’s hoping to get a contract done sooner than later.
But the Winnipeg Jets defenceman and pending restricted free agent is leaving the negotiations in the hands of agent Kurt Overhardt and he’ll take things as they come.
While the Jets and Overhardt did meet again in Dallas during the 2018 NHL Draft, the belief is that it’s still going to take some time before a deal gets done.
That doesn’t mean things are contentious, nor does it mean a deal is right around the corner either.
The object for both sides is to try and find a long-term deal that works for both parties.
Whether it’s a five-year deal or the maximum of eight remains to be seen, but it’s the average annual value of the contract that still needs to be sorted out.
Yes, the two sides have been down this road once before, but several critical factors have changed.
Trouba has grown into a first-pairing defenceman and he’s playing his natural side, on the right.
A major difference this time around is that Trouba has the right to file for arbitration, something he didn’t have coming out of his entry-level contract.
Trouba and Josh Morrissey (another pending RFA who needs a new deal and is due a raise) blossomed into the role as a shutdown pairing and embrace the opportunity to try to limit the offensive production of the opposition’s top players.
Both players have offensive upside, but neither sees much ice time on the power play.
That’s impacted the point totals for both players and while it tells only part of the story, it’s a factor for individuals seeking to be paid like a top-pairing D -man.
When it comes to searching for comparables, two recent contracts to consider are Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues.
Jones, who finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting, is going into the third year of a six-year pact that carries an average annual value of $5.4 million — a bargain when you consider he had 16 goals and 57 points in 78 games last season.
Parayko is entering the second year of a five-year contract that carries an AAV of $5.5 million and he had six goals and 35 points in 82 games last season.
Trouba, 24, had a career-high 33 points in 60 games in 2016
17, but dipped to 24 points in 55 games as he was out with a highankle sprain.
In the short term, going to arbitration is an option that could suit both parties — though it’s not a perfect solution either.
If it comes to that, Trouba would be in line to get a one-year term and get a modest raise from the $3 million average annual value his two-year bridge deal carried.
For the Jets, it would likely give them a bit of relief in a season where they are facing a bit of a cap crunch.
For Trouba, it would give him an opportunity to grow his point totals before trying to cash in on a longer-term deal.
While a one-year pact could work for the Jets, it would also shift the leverage pendulum to Trouba for next summer — as he would be only one year away from unrestricted free agency, essentially giving him a bit more leverage the next time the two sides work to iron out a deal.
Ultimately, the coming weeks might be the best time for both sides to show their commitment to one another.
AROUND THE GLASS
Sunday marked the opening of the five-day interview period, which gives NHL teams the opportunity to chat with players and agents about the possible framework of a deal. There’s no doubt centre Paul Stastny is one of the guys attracting interest and it will be interesting to see how the interest impacts his thinking as it pertains to possibly returning to the Jets next season. Aside from the Jets, teams expected to be interested in Stastny’s services include the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, among others … The deadline to extend qualifying offers to pending restricted free agents is Monday at 4 p.m. CT. The Jets full list of restricted free agents includes goalies Connor Hellebuyck,
Eric Comrie and Jamie Phillips, defencemen Tucker Poolman, Joe Morrow, Jan Kostalek, Trouba and Morrissey and forwards Adam Lowry, Joel Armia, Brandon Tanev, Marko Dano, Nic Petan, Chase De Leo, JC Lipon and Jimmy Lodge.