"I did what I thought was best for my future," Trouba added. "Things change over time. I want to be a hockey player and I'm truly honored to be here.
"I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but it's money. Whatever. That's not going to make or break my life. I feel good about taking a stand. I don't regret doing what I did. I feel it was the best thing for me to do at the time."
Trouba made the request prior to the start of the regular season, citing a desire to play on his natural right side as opposed to the left, where Paul Maurice had been deploying him in the past.
It appears as though Maurice is willing to meet him at least halfway in that regard.
#NHLJets HC Paul Maurice said he would consider playing Jacob Trouba on both the left and right sides. Could play as early as Thu vs Coyotes
While Trouba is committing to the Jets for the run of his current deal - which will carry him once again to restricted free agency - it remains to be seen whether the Jets will continue listening to offers for him, given the contentious relationship between team and player in recent months.
Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid will compete on the same sheet of ice for the very first time Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
So, naturally, it's time to compare the two generational talents.
Or in this case, more specifically, examine the question: can McDavid live up to the iconic standard that Crosby has established since being drafted out of the same No. 1 overall draft slot a decade prior?
Of course, this topic won't interest either party. And instead of indulging these comparisons and conceptualizations, the two will instead exchange predictable adulation. But when discussing legacy when it comes to McDavid and Crosby, the pressure of expectation can now only realistically affect one of the two.
Crosby is a two-time Stanley Cup champ, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time Hart Trophy winner, Triple-Gold Club member, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer. He provided one of a handful of truly indelible moments in Canadian hockey history, and above all that, he's in part responsible for the NHL's current prosperity.
And yet, the awe-inspiring sight of McDavid dashing down the middle of the ice is enough to believe he can transcend the game in the same way.
Salad Days
A cursory look at the numbers would indicate that McDavid's indoctrination into the NHL hasn't been nearly as successful as Crosby's was.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain hit the 100-point plateau in his rookie season, scoring fractionally short of a half-goal per game while collecting 1.26 points per start. Crosby made a major leap in production in his second year, racking up 120 points. This gave him 75 goals and 222 points in his first two NHL campaigns, which averaged out to an astounding 1.39 points per game.
Crosby had 44 more points than Pittsburgh's next highest scorer (Sergei Gonchar) in his rookie season, and when support in the form of Evgeni Malkin arrived in his second year, Crosby emerged as the NHL's most dominant player, helping the Penguins improve by 25 wins.
McDavid's rookie season, of course, was cut short 13 games in when he broke his collarbone crashing into the end boards. When healthy, however, McDavid was one of six players - including Crosby - to average more than one point per game. He finished with 16 goals and 48 points in 45 starts, which works out to 0.36 goals per game and 1.06 points a night.
Factoring in his five goals and 14 points in 13 games this year, McDavid's improved his career per-game production to 1.07 points - still almost a third of a point per game less than Crosby mustered in his teenage seasons.
Deeper Dive
There are obvious problems with comparing the work of Crosby, who appeared in 160 games in his first two seasons, and McDavid, who has 58 NHL games for his career. Breaking down Crosby's first 58 games illustrates this as fact.
Crosby scored 28 goals and 65 points in his first 58-game chunk. This is on par for his career goal-scoring rate at just under a half goal per game, but his 1.12 points per game over that stretch is far closer to McDavid's first sample (1.07 points) then Crosby's career average of 1.33.
Also leveling the playing field is the generational divide between their arrivals.
With games averaging between 2.95 and 3.08 goals from 2005-07, there were 14 100-point seasons and 40 85-point individual campaigns. Fast forward to now, there's been two 100-point scorers in the last four seasons, and only three players broke the 85-point threshold in McDavid's rookie season. Games averaged 2.71 goals per game that year - the fewest in the salary cap era.
Relative to environment, it's not a stretch to suggest that McDavid's points-per-game average is right in line with Crosby's work over the same time period.
Legacy
Individual scoring rates are what will remain in McDavid's control. And with his speed and skill, he can be one of the most prolific scorers of this generation and dominate for at least the next decade. What he can't control, however, are external factors that contributed to Crosby's greatness.
Crosby's worked under two NHL executives that have successfully constructed a roster capable of winning the Stanley Cup. For McDavid, just helping the Oilers become one of 16 postseason teams would be a major accomplishment in his second season.
The 29-year-old has represented Canada twice at the Olympics, offering an opportunity to deliver his greatest moment in hockey: the golden goal at the Vancouver Olympics. McDavid may never have the chance to call himself an Olympian.
Crosby won another international title with Canada at the World Cup of Hockey in September. McDavid's age prevented him from being on that team.
Opportunity
Though he may have a season-to-season impact comparable to Crosby's in his career, McDavid may never have the chance to match resumes simply due to factors beyond his control.
But McDavid does have an opportunity Crosby will likely never have, and one that if taken, would mean more to a large portion of Canadian hockey fans that have experienced his eminence over the last decade.
If McDavid was able to to bring a cup back to Edmonton, he'd be ending a championship drought north of the border that's quickly closing in on a quarter century.
Goaltender Juuse Saros has been recalled from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, with Marek Mazanec heading the other way.
The move comes with Nashville having lost five of its past six games, sitting last in the Central Division with a record of 3-5-3.
One of its wins came courtesy of Saros, who was earlier recalled on an emergency basis when a bout of food poisoning tore through Nashville's locker room. All he did in that game was stop 34 of 35 shots fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Through seven AHL games, Saros has posted a save percentage of .929, and while starter Pekka Rinne hasn't been the Predators' main issue, the youngster might be the spark Nashville needs to turn things around.
Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Plus: Matthew Tkachuk is proving to be a bit of a steal as the sixth-overall pick from the 2016 Draft. The 18-year-old eclipsed the 10-game benchmark and will therefore stick around for the entire season. He celebrated the news by scoring a game-winning goal against San Jose, and now has three goals and three assists in 12 games.
Minus: Calgary's top players are officially on watch after Flames president Brian Burke called them out for not getting it done. "I'm not one for calling players out or naming names, but our top guys are not playing up to their level - it's that simple," he said Monday.
Take: The Flames have been doused as of late, and their 5-8-1 record is below expectations. The Pacific Division is arguably the worst in hockey, meaning a playoff spot remains within striking distance.
Edmonton Oilers
Plus: The Oilers have rebounded from three straight losses with a pair of wins, and the resilience displayed may finally signal an actual turning of a corner in Edmonton.
Minus: It's rare to rank Connor McDavid as a minus, but with only two assists in his past five games, we'd say he's in a bit of a funk (by his standards, at least). Still, McDavid sits in a tie for fourth among all players in points, while the Oilers have gone 2-2-1 during his mini-slump.
Take: It's still very early, and the Oilers have 69 games remaining on the schedule. But they sit first in the Pacific with a five-point lead, and not making the playoffs this season will be seen as a disappointment.
Montreal Canadiens
Plus: A 10-1-1 record has put the Canadiens atop the NHL standings, and a 7-0-0 home record has somehow made Le Centre Bell an even more intimidating place to visit.
Take: As long as Carey Price remains healthy, the Canadiens have to be seen as one of the best teams in hockey and legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Without him, all bets are off.
Ottawa Senators
Plus: Ottawa continues to rally around Craig Anderson, who's playing some of the best hockey of his career despite unthinkable circumstances off the ice. Mike Condon was brought in as insurance in net, and recorded a shutout in his Senators debut.
Take: Guy Boucher has quietly led his new team to a record of 7-4-0, putting him in position to be a viable Jack Adams candidate should the Senators keep up their winning ways.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Plus: Frederik Andersen has strung together three straight wins to begin November, with a save percentage of .948 in starts against Edmonton, Buffalo, and Vancouver. Not the strongest competition, but a much-needed confidence boost for a goalie whose first month with his new team was one to forget.
Minus: Remember Auston Matthews' four-goal NHL debut? The first overall pick has scored only two goals in 11 games since Oct. 12, and has registered a single assist in his past six games.
Take: Despite Matthews' aforementioned cold spell, the Maple Leafs are led in scoring by three rookies (including William Nylander and Mitch Marner). If that wasn't enough, recent fireworks in a game against Vancouver proved Toronto is as close to a must-watch team as any other around the league. You literally never know what you're going to see.
Vancouver Canucks
Plus: After scoring only two goals over a stretch of five games, the Canucks exploded for five in their past two! Vancouver is also not dead last in the NHL, which is a positive only for those who believe this team can salvage a dreadful start.
Minus: The Canucks are mired in an eight-game losing streak, with games against the Rangers (two, in fact), Red Wings, and Stars on the horizon. A pair of November dates with the Coyotes - the only team with fewer points - may be their best bet to get back in the win column.
Take: Willie Desjardins has jumped to the top of the "first coach likely to be fired" list, and general manager Jim Benning should not be too far behind. It's well past time to kickstart a full rebuild in Vancouver.
Winnipeg Jets
Plus: Jacob Trouba is returning to the club after signing a two-year, $6-million contract. His long-term future with the Jets remains unclear, but it's a win for both sides in the meantime.
Minus: Exiling Ondrej Pavelec to the AHL and committing to Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson in net was supposed to improve Winnipeg's goaltending numbers. The pair have combined to record an .896 save percentage, and the Jets have given up the fourth-most goals. That's not going to cut it.
Take: Trouba's return will help stabilize a struggling defense, but it's likely he'll be traded now that he has a deal in place. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn't pulled off too many trades in his day, and can't afford to botch this one if he indeed chooses to go down that road.
Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Plus: Matthew Tkachuk is proving to be a bit of a steal as the sixth-overall pick from the 2016 Draft. The 18-year-old eclipsed the 10-game benchmark and will therefore stick around for the entire season. He celebrated the news by scoring a game-winning goal against San Jose, and now has three goals and three assists in 12 games.
Minus: Calgary's top players are officially on watch after Flames president Brian Burke called them out for not getting it done. "I'm not one for calling players out or naming names, but our top guys are not playing up to their level - it's that simple," he said Monday.
Take: The Flames have been doused as of late, and their 5-8-1 record is below expectations. The Pacific Division is arguably the worst in hockey, meaning a playoff spot remains within striking distance.
Edmonton Oilers
Plus: The Oilers have rebounded from three straight losses with a pair of wins, and the resilience displayed may finally signal an actual turning of a corner in Edmonton.
Minus: It's rare to rank Connor McDavid as a minus, but with only two assists in his past five games, we'd say he's in a bit of a funk (by his standards, at least). Still, McDavid sits in a tie for fourth among all players in points, while the Oilers have gone 2-2-1 during his mini-slump.
Take: It's still very early, and the Oilers have 69 games remaining on the schedule. But they sit first in the Pacific with a five-point lead, and not making the playoffs this season will be seen as a disappointment.
Montreal Canadiens
Plus: A 10-1-1 record has put the Canadiens atop the NHL standings, and a 7-0-0 home record has somehow made Le Centre Bell an even more intimidating place to visit.
Take: As long as Carey Price remains healthy, the Canadiens have to be seen as one of the best teams in hockey and legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Without him, all bets are off.
Ottawa Senators
Plus: Ottawa continues to rally around Craig Anderson, who's playing some of the best hockey of his career despite unthinkable circumstances off the ice. Mike Condon was brought in as insurance in net, and recorded a shutout in his Senators debut.
Take: Guy Boucher has quietly led his new team to a record of 7-4-0, putting him in position to be a viable Jack Adams candidate should the Senators keep up their winning ways.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Plus: Frederik Andersen has strung together three straight wins to begin November, with a save percentage of .948 in starts against Edmonton, Buffalo, and Vancouver. Not the strongest competition, but a much-needed confidence boost for a goalie whose first month with his new team was one to forget.
Minus: Remember Auston Matthews' four-goal NHL debut? The first overall pick has scored only two goals in 11 games since Oct. 12, and has registered a single assist in his past six games.
Take: Despite Matthews' aforementioned cold spell, the Maple Leafs are led in scoring by three rookies (including William Nylander and Mitch Marner). If that wasn't enough, recent fireworks in a game against Vancouver proved Toronto is as close to a must-watch team as any other around the league. You literally never know what you're going to see.
Vancouver Canucks
Plus: After scoring only two goals over a stretch of five games, the Canucks exploded for five in their past two! Vancouver is also not dead last in the NHL, which is a positive only for those who believe this team can salvage a dreadful start.
Minus: The Canucks are mired in an eight-game losing streak, with games against the Rangers (two, in fact), Red Wings, and Stars on the horizon. A pair of November dates with the Coyotes - the only team with fewer points - may be their best bet to get back in the win column.
Take: Willie Desjardins has jumped to the top of the "first coach likely to be fired" list, and general manager Jim Benning should not be too far behind. It's well past time to kickstart a full rebuild in Vancouver.
Winnipeg Jets
Plus: Jacob Trouba is returning to the club after signing a two-year, $6-million contract. His long-term future with the Jets remains unclear, but it's a win for both sides in the meantime.
Minus: Exiling Ondrej Pavelec to the AHL and committing to Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson in net was supposed to improve Winnipeg's goaltending numbers. The pair have combined to record an .896 save percentage, and the Jets have given up the fourth-most goals. That's not going to cut it.
Take: Trouba's return will help stabilize a struggling defense, but it's likely he'll be traded now that he has a deal in place. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn't pulled off too many trades in his day, and can't afford to botch this one if he indeed chooses to go down that road.
The Calgary Flames are in a familiar position: at the bottom of the table, having allowed the most goals in the NHL.
It's been 14 games, and with only five wins to show for them, president Brian Burke is running out of patience. Especially after a 1-3 road trip.
Burke explained what's dogging his team Monday on Sportsnet960 The Fan, and, after bringing up turnovers and special teams (Calgary ranks 28th on the power play and 29th on the penalty kill), he went in on Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan - two players who recently signed massive extensions.
"Our top players aren't getting it done," Burke said. "I'm not one for calling players out or naming names, but our top guys are not playing up to their level - it's that simple."
Gaudreau has two goals and six assists in 14 games, and while his eight points are second on the team, he's a team-worst minus-11. Monahan's got four goals and one assist in 14 games, and checks in at minus-10.
Brian Elliott's struggled in goal, too, with an .887 save percentage in nine games, but Burke refuses to blame his goalies, who are battling in the crease but getting no help.
He made a point of saying that what ails the Flames isn't a lack of effort. He's been around the block, and knows the mental hurdles that come with big-money extensions for young players.
"We believe in these guys," Burke said. But he's tired of the excuses.
Monday couldn't have gone much better for the Boston Bruins.
Boston got back into the win column after a convincing 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, with two Bruins earning some personal accolades in the process.
Tuukka Rask continued his outstanding early-season play with a 32-save shutout, his 32nd as a Bruin, supplanting 2011 Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas for third on the Boston's all-time list, according to NHL Public Relations.
On top of Rask climbing the ranks, head coach Claude Julien - the winningest coach in Bruins history - earned his 400th career win behind the bench.
