Jacob Trouba talks returning to New York ahead of matchup with Rangers

Jacob Trouba talks returning to New York ahead of matchup with Rangers

What was uh just the emotion walking in today? Uh yeah, interesting. I think uh obviously don’t really know exactly how you’re going to feel. I think uh it was pretty good for me. I went downtown uh back by my apartment last night and walked around. That one kind of got me a little bit. So, um it’ll be fun being back here today and try to enjoy as much as I can. Do you still have the the place you’re keeping it and everything? Yeah. Nice. How much more emotional will it be for you tonight? Um I don’t know. Tough to say. I think the only thing I can really compare it to is going back to Winnipeg for the first time. Um, but I think it’s a little bit different coming back here with just being the captain of the team and the I don’t know all the memories and stories and everything that that went into the last five, six years. Um, means a lot to me and something this place will always be special. It’s been a year. Have you moved on from this? And I mean, this brings back memories, but have you moved on over the course of this time now? Do you believe? Uh, I think so. I think last season was obviously pretty difficult for me. um like your heart’s in a place and that gets moved and I don’t do well with that. So, I think the taking the summer to kind of just go through everything, kind of process the motions and get back with my family, kind of hit the reset button, um was important to me and it’s time at that point it was time to move on and look forward and focus on Anaheim and I’m happy to be here. Great great group guys to be a part of. Really young talented team and uh had some success early and got to find a way to keep that going. in terms of in terms of the memories when you come back into business for the first time. Is there a specific moment, vision, person? What what what came back first? Um just so much. I think the highs and lows I think you remember honestly a lot of the lows and sometimes how hard it is and come out on the other side and there’s so much I learned throughout my time here about myself, about hockey, about starting a family. I always have a son from New York. I told some people that that always be special. um being in captain that day, obviously all those memories come back. That was incredible meaningful day for for me and just I think when I came into New York at the time of where the team was and focusing on building something and moving forward and we had a couple couple cracks at it and didn’t get it done and that part will always probably eat at me, but I think the growth of uh I guess the group and the team um while I was here and growth of myself is something that I I look back on most. Is this a night you look forward to? Is this a night that you just want to get through? Um, there’s a little bit of both for sure. I think coming back and seeing familiar faces and seeing friends in the city. Um, that’s all great. I think obviously the emotions that that come with it. Um, you know, there’s not really a playbook for for that and how to deal with it. I think uh I have been looking forward to it. I think I’ll also be excited when when it’s over and we we can move on to the next one and keep the season moving. Um, yeah, just try to enjoy it as much as I can. Do you think Chris talked about it at all? And what’s it been like with him as as your teammate? Um, great. I think he’s the same same old guy, just this goofier haircut. Um, yeah. No, I think we’re both just going to try to enjoy as much as we can and I think it’ll be different for him than it is for me, but it’s uh we’re both looking forward to it. Did New York come home for you? Uh, definitely. I would say that. I think um things change obviously the course of life, but this is probably a place we’ll we’ll end up back whether it’s in in or out of the city. Um, our friends are here, our family’s here, my wife worked, too. She did all her education and all that here and she loves the the hospital system. So, there’s a good chance we’ll be back. What kind of impact has Chris made on this group since he joined you guys? Um, I mean, just kind of seamlessly walked in and was himself. The same impact I think he brought to the group here. Um, he takes the time to to work with younger guys and build relationships and get to know them. And off the ice, we’re having a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time together, obviously. Um, but yeah, I think he’s just been himself and the knowledge and the character he is. I think he’s just kind of brought his genuine self to the group and people kind of gravitate towards him. You mentioned last year was was difficult. Does the way that it ended change the emotions at all coming back? Um, no, not for me. I think the way it ended is how it how it ended. I think um I say reflected a lot on that and there’s there’s people that make decisions above you at the end of the day. You’re you’re a hockey player and this is the job I signed up for. Um, so yeah, I think it’s unfortunate I guess I’ll say and didn’t enjoy it in the moment, but I think uh it’s kind of just a small piece of what was a very very memorable and impactful five and a half years for me. Um, so yeah, I don’t that’s not the moment I focus on. I think I focus on the broader the zoom out and everything in my life that’s that’s changed and the people I met in New York and MSG and the crazy cool things I got to do as as captain of the Rangers. Um, those are the things I I guess I look back on most and remember very very fondly. You put it you put it on the line here so many times. Is there a message to the to the fans? Uh, just thank you. I think um I mean just how I was received here and everything I guess going through the last five and a half years, the ups and downs. Um, just thank you for always always kind of being there and having my back. Now that you’ve been in a couple of different places, is there something that you experienced here that you’d say to yourself, man, like only in New York could could that happen? Whether positive or negative? Uh, there’s probably a lot of those. Um, that’s a tough question off the top of my head. I think just the experience and some of the opportunities you get. I think that goes back to relationships. I think of people I got the opportunity to meet here and spend time with and learn from. And there’s a lot of doors, I guess, that open in in life just from this city and this team and this building and everything that comes with playing in New York City. You played against former teammates once, now more tonight. What is that like? Is that weird? Um, I don’t know. I guess the more more you play in the league, you kind of end up playing former teammates as you go. Um, so I guess I’m kind of used to it a bit now. I think it’ll be just more interesting seeing the the jersey and playing against the jersey. I haven’t done that in a while, but um, yeah, it’s always fun to see familiar faces. How has how is getting out of the bright lights of New York benefited your own individual game? How’s it opened up things for you on ice? Um, I mean, I think it was there were some heavy times here. There’s a lot there’s a lot of of things you’re dealing with. I think um coming to Anaheim’s I guess we get to play hockey and worry about playing hockey and I think as there is a little bit more of a looseness and not worrying about a million things just kind of worrying about my hockey game and where I fit in and helping the team. Um I think that’s been good for me. One more question. I know that you’re playing against a lot of former teammates, but the team’s also changed a lot. Is it weird at all for you to see how different it is in in just a year? Um I mean that’s just kind of how hockey teams go. Um, yeah, it has changed changed a whole lot. I think a lot of things you could probably go go back and look at and say they’ve they’ve evolved a bit. Um, yeah, still a lot of familiar faces and staff members and all that that I’m looking forward to see.

Former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba spoke to the media as he returns to MSG for the first time since being traded last season.

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