Rangers Captain Jacob Trouba is the winner of the 2023-24 Mark Messier Leadership award, “which is presented “to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”
From the NHL: “Messier solicits suggestions from team and League personnel to compile a list of potential candidates for the award. However, the selection of the winner is Messier’s alone.”
From the Rangers: “Trouba is the first Rangers player to earn the annual Mark Messier Leadership Award since it was first presented on a season-by-season basis in the spring of 2007.”
More from the NHL:
- Playing his fifth season with the Rangers and second as captain, Trouba guided the team to its most wins (55) and points (114) in the franchise’s 97-year history en route to the Metropolitan Division title and Presidents’ Trophy. He ranked fourth on New York in average time on ice (21:15) and led the team in average shorthanded time (2:51) for the No. 3 penalty killing unit in the League (84.5%).
- Trouba collected 3-19—22 in 69 total appearances, the 10th time in his 11 NHL seasons he has produced at least 20 points. He also finished 12th in the League with 183 blocked shots and second on the Rangers with 191 hits, the second- and third-highest totals of his career, respectively.
- The No. 9 overall pick from the 2012 NHL Draft (by WPG) played in his 700th career game Nov. 29 vs. DET and picked up his 300th career point Dec. 12 vs. TOR (73-236—309 in 748 GP), becoming the third defenseman from his draft class to reach the latter milestone.
- Away from the rink, Trouba has been a staple in the metropolitan New York youth hockey community, including participation in the annual Rangers Youth Hockey Camp. The weeklong camp for boys and girls ages 6-to-12 years old takes place at rinks across the Tri-State area and includes on- and off-ice training sessions focused on inspiring the next generation of hockey players.
- Trouba also is uniquely involved with The Garden of Dreams Foundation, which is committed to bringing life-changing opportunities to young people facing illness, financial challenges, or dealing with the death or injury of a family member in uniform. Trouba connects his newly discovered passion as an artist with raising funds to support the foundation’s remarkable work. This season, prints of his original artwork – created by wearing full hockey gear, covering himself in paint and body checking a giant canvas – were sold, with $100,000 benefitting The Garden of Dreams Foundation.
- Trouba’s passion for art and original art pieces also supports the Epilepsy Foundation in New York. Along with his wife, Kelly, who has epilepsy, they founded the Trouba Creative Expressions Art Program, a 10-week program connecting adults who have epilepsy and seizures with art therapists.
- The Rangers captain’s outreach efforts extend beyond New York via his involvement with AstraZeneca’s ‘Get Body Checked Against Cancer’ campaign, part of the NHL and NHLPA’s joint Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Trouba, who has dealt with cancer in his family, is featured in the campaign alongside his mother, Kristy. Together, they encourage fans to talk to their doctor and get regular screenings.
More from the Rangers:
- Since joining the organization ahead of the 2019-20 season, the 30-year-old defenseman has helped lead the Blueshirts to success on the ice and has taken pride in representing the club in the community. This past summer, he participated in the Rangers Youth Hockey Camp, signing autographs for and spending time with kids taking part in the camp. Now in his second year as team captain after being named to the position on Aug. 9, 2022, Trouba frequently hosts meet and greets following home games with kids from the Garden of Dreams Foundation, spending time with kids and occasionally taking them on a tour of the locker room.
- Throughout the 2023-24 season, Trouba and his wife Kelly have raised over $160,000 for the Garden of Dreams Foundation and the Epilepsy Foundation, predominately through the sale of Jacob’s art. He began selling prints of his art online to support the two charities in the fall, amassing $100,000 in donations before Christmas and donated an original one of his pieces to be auctioned off at the Rangers annual Casino Night fundraiser, where it raised $25,000 and was the most successful item in the auction.
- On the ice, Trouba recorded three goals and 19 assists for 22 points in 69 regular season games. The Rochester, Michigan, native led all Rangers skaters in blocked shots (183) and ranked second in hits (191).