Report: Jacob Trouba Blocked a Trade to Division Rival With Refusal to Remove NMC

After a chaotic start to the day on Friday, the New York Rangers finally managed to trade captain Jacob Trouba, sending him to the Anaheim Ducks as a part of a major cap dump.

Now, it has been revealed by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline just why Trouba ended up in the West, rather than a little closer to home with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who also attempted to make a trade for him.

According to Portzline, Trouba refused to waive his no-trade clause for a deal that would have seen him stay closer to New York with the Blue Jackets, with New York then pivoting to the offer they already had on the table from the Ducks.

While the simple Ohio vs. California argument certainly makes this one an easy decision for Trouba, it was his wife's residency in New York that was the reason behind a failed trade in the summer, making his choice to head all the way West an intriguing one now.

Regardless of his choice, the Rangers managed to dump all $8 million of his salary cap both this season and next, and that has to be seen as a win for a team looking to retool their top-six as they chase a Stanley Cup.

Ultimately though, it makes sense why someone would want to join a young, up-and-coming team in sunny California over Columbus Ohio, and now, we will have to wait and see whether or not Trouba made the right call, or whether he ever expands on the decision to choose the Ducks over the Blue Jackets.