WINNIPEG — The news of Jacob Trouba’s trade request continues to reverberate throughout the Winnipeg Jets’ dressing room.
On Monday Dustin Byfuglien, Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler skated with the rest of the team for the first time since returning from the World Cup of Hockey and the Jets new captain continues to hold out hope the relationship between the Jets and Trouba can be salvaged.
“It’s too bad,” said Wheeler. “We love having Trouby here and I guess for me, you hope to get him back in our room as soon as possible.”
“He’s obviously a big part of this team and we hope that he’ll be a part of something good here,” said Scheifele.
RELATED: Winnipeg Jets respond to Jacob Trouba statement
Trouba is currently a restricted free agent and it’s been widely reported for close to a year he’s seeking in the neighbourhood of $7 million per season. But in the statement that requested the trade, Trouba’s agent Kurt Overhardt indicated it’s not about the money but more about his position and ice time saying “it is solely about our client having the opportunity to realize his potential as a right shot NHL defenceman.”
“Obviously it’s a tough situation but that’s not really our spot to comment on it,” Scheifele said. “It’s something between Jacob and his agent and his camp, and the Jets organization. So that’s something I don’t have much knowledge on.”
WATCH: Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele discuss Trouba’s trade request
Scheifele spent the last couple weeks with Trouba playing for Team North America at the World Cup, but he didn’t see this coming and won’t be pitching Trouba on the merits of staying with the Jets.
“Talking to him you get a sense, but you definitely didn’t know that was happening,” said Scheifele. “He’s obviously a good friend of a lot of us and we’ll be there to lend a helping hand if he asks for it, but I don’t think many guys will reach out and try to pitch him on anything.”
Of course what players are saying publicly could be a whole lot different than what they’re saying behind closed doors. But forward Mathieu Perreault didn’t hide his feelings on Sunday.
“A little bit selfish of him I would say,” said Perreault. “I don’t want to bash the guy cause I like Jacob, but for him to be so young and asking for a trade, it’s not something I really appreciate it.”
WATCH: Mathieu Perreault calls Trouba’s trade request selfish
Considering Trouba’s a restricted free agent, the Jets hold all the cards. But it’s a situation Trouba hopes is resolved quickly. According to the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHLPA, any restricted free agent not signed before Dec. 1 is ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. So Trouba would be sacrificing millions of dollars by not inking a new deal by the end of November.
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