Fight it: Trouba does not want to come back

Jacob Trouba is the solution of the Winnipeg Jets on the ice and the problem that arises.

It's been a while now and it's likely to last a while longer.

Trouba entered the story on Friday morning in Toronto when he became the first player in franchise history to train the Jets at a pay arbitration hearing.

Many before him threatened to do so – five of his teammates went to arbitration this year. But no one has ever sat in front of the club management team at a hearing.

What is the rarity of what happened on Friday? In 2016 and 2017, a combined total of 55 NHL players entered the arbitration; 54 of them settled before their scheduled hearings.

So the simple fact that the Jets and Trouba were in this room on Friday is a big problem.

Because, whatever happens now – that both parties will install this weekend and rejoice or that they will wait 48 hours and that the referee will be there. in charge for them – the damage is already done.

What was already a bad blood story between the management of Trouba and that of the Jets was aggravated by the time the hearing began. Because no one wins in arbitration, no matter the final decision.

Trouba spent the morning listening to management describe his shortcomings while the team argued why he thinks he's far from the best defenseman in the NHL.

Jets management also spent the morning listening to Trouba's agent, Kurt Overhardt, describe how Trouba lasted and how the Jets are the least expensive and most unreasonable franchise in the NHL for dragging this young man in the mud.

But hey, nothing personal, right?

Now we live in a world in which all things are possible, so I guess these infinite possibilities should include the unlikely scenario in which Jets and Trouba return to the bargaining table and develop a long-term plan . contract before the decision of the arbitrator.

The rules of the collective agreement allow for this possibility and if that happens, you can expect Kevin Cheveldayoff, the managing director of Trouba and Jets, to look directly at the camera and promise an early press conference to live happily from a contract of five, six, seven or eight years.

Maybe they will, but personally, I doubt the part happily ever pbaded. They will say the good things, but make no mistake, this episode will leave a lasting scar.

Evander Kane signed a long-term contract with the Jets, and he subsequently pbaded each year thereafter to demand to be exchanged. We all know how it happened.

Not personal? Everything is personal between Trouba and the Jets, and this since he missed the first 15 games of the 2016-17 season to support his exchange request.

At that time, Overhardt told everyone who wanted to hear that Trouba had nothing against the Jets and certainly had nothing against Winnipeg – "God no! He loves Winnipeg! Especially the airport!

Justhardt insisted, with an impbadive face at the time, that Trouba wanted to play on the right side, not on the left, where he was playing mostly for the Jets.

It was a laughable smoke screen at the time and it is more laughable now.

So, what is it this time? Does he want to play between the pipes?

The current dispute is about a money issue – the Jets reportedly presented to the arbitrator a ridiculously low bid of one year of 4 million US dollars, while the agent Trouba reportedly presented a ridiculously high bid for one year worth 7 million US dollars.

Maybe that is all it is – the money. If that's the case, it would be the best news possible for Jets fans because it's a problem that can and will be solved sooner or later.

But after a while you have to wonder if Trouba just does not want to play in Winnipeg.

Because let's face it, it's always something with this guy. And, really, it's only with this guy that it's always something.

Dustin Byfuglien? Nice to sign a five-year extension of 38 million US dollars with the Jets.

Mark Scheifele? He was too happy to sign a contract extension of $ 49 million over eight years.

Nikolaj Ehlers? "Why yes, I would like to sign an extension of US $ 42 million seven years."

Connor Hellebuyck? "Damn, I'm going to give up my arbitration hearing and sign for my number, $ 37 million over six years."

On Thursday, Adam Lowry canceled his arbitration hearing and signed for a very respectable 8.75 million US dollars over three years.

What I mean is that the Jets have demonstrated over and over again that they are more than willing to pay large sums and give long-term conditions to the players that they have. they feel that they are a long-term part of the future of the team.

This could be a team of small markets, but the Jets have repeatedly paid the prices of the big cities for gamers who they believe form the foundation for the future of this franchise.

Trouba clearly fits this description, by any measure you would like to use. And so, I can not imagine that the Jets have not offered, over and over again in recent years, to make Trouba a similar long-term offer that would allow it to reach other men over six million dollars.

So what gives?

The only conclusion I can draw is that Trouba hopes it's the Jets that will finally give him what he wanted in 2016 – an outing.

Which would be good, really, if that's what's going on here. And if that's what happens, the Jets should sign Trouba for another year at any contract that a reasonable referee deems and then trade against what would be a huge comeback for a coveted defender right-handed high-peer.

But if that's what happens, I'd like Trouba to be honest about it. It would be much easier to take.

The fact is that many people do not want to live and work in Winnipeg, including many Winnipeggers.

Heck, I am one of them for about six months each year. And then May rolls and I feel much better in my home town deeply defective.

But in May, Trouba went on and on in a post-season press conference about how much he loved here and how much he wanted to stay here and how much he hoped, this time, an agreement could get done quickly.

So why did not it happen?

Well, if you agree that there is no good reason for the Jets did not make Trouba the same kind of sumptuous and multi-year offer that They have made so many other great players in recent years, there are only two possibilities: the offer is still not generous enough; or, more likely in my opinion, the problem this time is the same as the problem last time – Trouba does not want to be here.

If that is the case, the clock runs for the Jets. Because in two years, Trouba will become an unrestricted free agent. And if you think that he would stay when he would not have to do it, after all that has happened in the past two years, you are delusional.

Trouba is a solution for Jets on the ice. This is not to be debated.

But there is a problem – the one that only got fat on Friday.

[email protected]: Paul Wiecek

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