After wrapping up their four game homestand with a wholly unremarkable 2-2 record, the Rangers are off to the Great White North to take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight. While these two teams don’t share much of a rivalry, Jeff Gorton has crossed paths at the negotiation tables with Jets’ general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff for two major trades over the last year.

In need of a big bodied center to beef up for the stretch run, the Jets struck a deal to land Kevin Hayes from the Rangers prior to last year’s trade deadline. Winnipeg packaged Brendan Lemieux with their 1st round pick in the 2019 Entry Draft, and the Rangers were primed to add another high-ceiling player to their prospect pool courtesy of Winnipeg. However, in search of a shiny new toy to add to the blue line, the Blueshirts opted to return Winnipeg’s 1st rounder back to them (along with Neal Pionk) to land Jacob Trouba.

Player to Watch: Jacob Trouba

After arriving in New York over the summer, Trouba’s Broadway debut came against his former team back on opening night. Trouba made the Jets rue their decision to trade him by notching a goal and two assists in his first game as a Ranger. Although the rest of his season has failed to live up to his spectacular opening night performance, look for Trouba to play with a bit of pep in his step in his first game back in Winnipeg.

Enjoy the game!