Jacob Trouba doesn't think about being the villain

Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

8:00 AM ET

Jacob Trouba doesn't pay much attention to his reputation.

A lot of NHL fans watch the New York Rangers defense destroy opponents with their open-ice checks. Penalties that are not whistled are called for. They want suspension that isn't handed out. Trouba says he doesn't hear the boos when he touches the puck.

With one exception.

He said he heard them in Pittsburgh. I don't pay much attention to it. It's the way I play.

The trajectory of the Rangers' playoffs was changed by Trouba's hit on Crosby in the first round. The critical games against the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Knicks were changed by his hits.

• 
• 
• 

He might be able to turn the tide when we need it. There were at least one or two big ones that everyone sees, but there are many more that wear guys down. It can take a toll on a team. It isn't going to be on every box score.

It surfaces on social media in real time, with opposing fans blasting the hits, and Rangers fans affectionately referring to the act as "Trouba'd." Trouba's opponents thought that he intended to hurt them.

I don't pay much attention to it. Trouba had a smile on his face and said that his social media account does. You are just another person on the team when you enter the dressing room.

He skates almost 25 minutes per game and contributes offense. Kevin Rooney said that he was a special player for the Rangers.

He said thatTroubs has been a leader on and off the ice. It's always good when the other team is thinking.

Chris Kreider said he was happy to play with another player.

The name Adam Foote was evoked by the Rangers general manager when he talked about Trouba.

He plays hard. There is a bit of a past. Day in and day out, there is no nonsense to him.

Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Stevens, whose injurious hits were lauded in his day but would be demonized by today's player safety standards, was brought along by the Rangers' coach.

Scott Stevens is always there for me. Gallant said to keep your head up when on the ice.

The hit on Crosby changed the course of the game. They were behind in the series at one point. They fell behind 2-0 in the second period of the game. Crosby made a play near the slot. Crosby was dropped by Trouba as he lunged for the puck. The player left the game after taking two more shifts.

Sid does a lot of twisting and turning and spinning away from his teammates. "Troubs tried to play the puck but his elbow got up a little high on him." No intent was present. He was not attempting to hurt anyone. Didn't run people through the glass.

The Stanley Cup Final will be broadcasted on ABC, as well as the first and second round of games.

• How to watch

• Subscribe to ESPN+

• Stream the NHL on ESPN

Sullivan said that there was intent to hurt Trouba. The NHL Department of Player Safety decided that there wasn't any intent and that he wouldn't be punished.

The Rangers came back to win. They won the game without Crosby. Crosby wasn't as effective as he was earlier in the series, but the Rangers eliminated the Pens.

The series against the Hurricanes was decided by Trouba's two game-changing hits. In the fourth game of the series, he laid out the Carolina forward as he seemed to lose an edge. The on-ice officials didn't think the hit was worth a penalty.

StevenLorentz jumped Trouba for a fight after he was hit. The instigator penalty was costly as the Rangers scored on the ensuing power play.

I'm responsible for that." It is difficult. You need to make a decision in a split second. The game is fast and I thought I was doing the right thing, but unfortunately I ended up costing our team, so that's on me.

Trouba's hit was the biggest play of the game, according to Andrew. Braun respected Trouba's response to the attack.

The guys go after his response after that. He might be one of the best at that time of the year. People catching people. You have to be aware of when he is out there. Braun said you will be in trouble if you don't.

Trouba hit again in the 7th game. The puck was moved by a key player for the Hurricanes. Trouba hit him with a hard but legal hit. The player left the game after just three shifts. Carolina's only home loss of the playoffs came against the Rangers in a big way.

Hockey is inherently injurious even if physical plays are made within the confines of the rules. The person on the receiving end can suffer in the aftermath of Trouba's hit on them.

Crosby was injured. Crosby was out with a head injury, according to Emily Kaplan. Crosby's agent told Kaplan that the word concussion can be used lightly, but head injuries are very serious, and that the Pens are being very careful and smart.

After the Rangers series, he said he lost a lot of memory.

I don't remember much until the next day. He said it was scary when he didn't remember anything and the doctors told him what he was doing. I don't remember if I got off the ice or not. Hearing it from other people is frightening.

If these hits had merit, the criticism of Trouba would be much less. The people did not. The same referee worked all three of the games in which Trouba was hit.

Trouba could be called a headhunter if the NHL Department of Player Safety disciplined him for the hits. According to a source, Trouba wasn't even warned that his hits were illegal.

He was given a two game suspension by the NHL for a hit to the head of Mark Stone. There isn't anything after that.

Jacob is a hard-playing hockey player. He plays a good game. He doesn't want to hurt people.

Trouba was born in Michigan. People have the wrong picture of a young player.

I didn't watch a lot of hockey when I was a kid. Trouba said that he was more of a Red Wings fan in his backyard.

He was a member of the U.S. national development team. He was drafted by the Jets in the ninth round. He was a member of the Jets in the 2013-14 season. He played for a long time with the franchise.

After three seasons with the Jets, he requested a trade due to his unhappiness with his place on the depth chart. He signed a two-year deal to stay in the city. When he was a restricted free agent, Kevin Cheveldayoff told him he was going to be traded. Trouba wanted to play for an American team in order to be closer to his partner in Florida.

He was traded to the Rangers in June for a first-round pick in the next year's draft. He signed a seven year contract after the trade.

Trouba spent three seasons in New York. He's yet to break a one point-per-60 minutes scoring pace with the Rangers but he's chipping in a bit with 78 points in 189 games.

He's always on time. He has been our most consistent player all season. The D-zone is being established by him. It's calms down the back end.

Pick winners throughout the playoffs for a chance to win thousands of dollars. Pick your favorites.

His open-ice hits in which he skates with speed while keeping his body small has remained the most constant. Rangers fans refer to opponents getting hit by the "Trouba Train" in addition to making his name a synonym.

Jon Cooper is watching his team play in the Eastern Conference finals. He coached Trouba at the World Cup of Hockey and has watched him play this way for years. He was waiting to see which team would play in the third round. He said that no one, including Trouba, wanted to see it happen to a teammate.

Everyone knows that guys can hit you. You might have a different mindset going into a corner with Trouba versus someone else. He's a physical presence and has been for a long time. One of the guys that does it is one of the teams that advanced.

Six victories away from the Stanley Cup, the Rangers have advanced further than anyone thought possible. The impact Trouba has had on opponents will be remembered as an impact by the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

I don't think SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA is SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA SALVAGEDATA Especially by a person like him.