For Jacob Trouba, stepping into a leadership role on the Rangers was an organic transition that was years in the making as he matured throughout his hockey career.
It wasn’t until midway through last season, Trouba’s second with the Rangers, that his teammates began singling him out as a prominent voice in the locker room. They identified him as the player they looked to after a bad period and someone who consistently led by example. It didn’t take long for Trouba to join Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, two of the longest-tenured Rangers, as the players who spoke on behalf of the team after the losses that were the most difficult to put into words.
An alternate captain for the Rangers the past two seasons, Trouba has evolved into a hybrid leader. The 27-year-old has taken qualities from each of the players who helped shape him throughout his career, in addition to his experiences, and implemented it into his own style.
“I learned a lot of it is setting an example and how, what you do every day, people watch,” Trouba said. “On the ice, I would say, I think I’ve always worked hard and battled and led in that aspect.”
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