When the Winnipeg Jets drafted Jacob Trouba ninth overall in the 2012 draft they were hoping they just added a future franchise defenseman. After three full seasons in the NHL Trouba is off to a solid start in his career. He still does at the ripe age of 22 has a lot of work to do before the hockey world calls him a #1 blue liner. But with the Michigan native now wanting to be paid like a franchise defenseman after his entry-level deal, negotiations were hard to complete. They came to a close this afternoon.

Jacob Trouba is re-signing in Winnipeg. Hearing two years, $3M AAV. — Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 7, 2016

Time in Winnipeg

Trouba arrived in Winnipeg as a 19-year-old. At 6’3 and 202 lbs he has great size for a defenseman. The youngster from Rochester, Michigan has been solid in his first three years in the NHL. Last year Trouba had six goals and 21 points. In his career he has played 211 games and has tallied 23 goals, 72 points. Trouba also logs a lot of ice time as he averaged 23-plus minutes a night down the stretch last season, including logging 220:22 on the penalty kill, 18th most among NHL defensemen.

There is no doubt the future is very bright for Trouba and it is possible he could reach his potential and become a first pairing defenseman for the Jets during this two-year window. But the reality is he is not there yet.

Trouba’s contract negotiations were destined to be tough in Winnipeg once Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad signed their big-dollar extensions after their entry-level contracts. Jones landed an annual average value of $5.4 million and Ekblad received $7.5 million on an annual basis. Does it matter in the contract negotiations with Trouba and the Jets, that Jones and Ekblad have greatly out performed him? It did not to Trouba and his agent, as his holdout lasted 13 games of the Jets’ schedule.

General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and Trouba himself have to be thrilled that the process is now over, as the Jets’ injury troubles have hit the defense with Tyler Myers going down. They will now have a big piece back to regain that stability.

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