Quite 'D' pair
Skjei, Trouba give Blueshirts defensive duo they’ve craved
The American Duo, coming to save the day.
At least, that would be the hope for the Rangers, as Brady Skjei of Minnesota has been joined by Jacob Trouba of Michigan to ostensibly create a first defensive pair the club has been wanting after for years. And following two straight seasons in which the Blueshirts’ play in their own end has been a sore point, the two good buddies from their time at the U.S. Development Program could be a solution to having a real top unit.
“I think that’s definitely our goal,” Skjei told The Post after Tuesday’s practice, as the first look at the duo will come with the preseason opener Wednesday night at the Garden against the Devils. “Top teams definitely have that top pair. ... We’re trying to be that pair. We’re trying to be hard to play against for opposing teams.”
Skjei is now 25 years old, and, as coach David Quinn pointed out, he already got his big second contract when he inked a six-year, $31.5 million deal just over a year ago. The $5.25 million annual salary-cap hit is pretty reasonable — as long as Skjei continues to come through on the promise he showed in his first two seasons, when his skating ability set him apart and put him on a track toward big minutes and responsibility.
“He’s at that age where I think it’s time for him to do it on a consistent basis,” Quinn said, “and I think he will do it on a consistent basis.”
It will certainly help to play alongside a guy like Trouba, arguably the best partner Skjei has had since coming up at the end of the 2015-16 season. Trouba may be the best right-handed defenseman the Rangers have had since the prime of Dan Girardi, and his ceiling is certainly higher than that.
The talent level is why general manager Jeff Gorton traded for the 25-year-old restricted free agent, sending the Jets Neal Pionk and a first-round pick — No. 20 overall, the pick Gorton had obtained from Winnipeg for Kevin Hayes in a deadline deal. Trouba then signed a seven-year, $56 million deal, with the $8 million annual cap hit representing the third highest salary on the Rangers, behind only Artemi Panarin and Henrik Lundqvist.
Helping Trouba settle into the New York life is his new partner, Skjei, who just bought a home in TriBeCa, blocks from where Trouba is renting. The two carpool to the practice rink in Tarrytown, and Trouba is easing into a new way of life with his good friend at his side to help, both on and off the ice.
“The biggest thing I find is good is just being comfortable with someone, taking to them after a play — you’re not really on pins and needles talking to them, and seeing how they’re going to react or what they’re going to say,” Trouba told The Post. “I think he trusts me and has a pretty good idea of how I think, and I trust what he says. We can talk more and work out the kinks in a little bit faster than someone I didn’t know.”
It should also help Skjei, who has had more than his fair share of partners since the start of his career. But if it’s possible to stick with one person — especially someone as good as Trouba — then Skjei thinks that can be to his advantage in finding consistency in his own play.
“It helps a ton,” Skjei said. “You just get that familiarity with each other, you pick up little things. Whereas, if you’re switching partners all the time — not like it’s a bad thing — but [staying with one person brings] more familiarity and being more comfortable.”
So the plan the Rangers imagined when they obtained Trouba is now going into action, and it’s up to Skjei and Trouba to see if The American Duo sticks together.
“From the start of the season,” Skjei said, “we’re trying to get a good start and solidify ourselves as a top ‘D’ pair.”