The New York Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks for fellow defenceman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick.

The Ducks will take on the full remaining salary for Trouba, the veteran blue liner who had fallen out of favor in New York as the front office eyed a shake-up.

"Jacob has been an example on and off the ice for our organization and played a major role in our success over the last several years," Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. "Since coming to New York five years ago, and serving as captain for the last three seasons, he has demonstrated grit, toughness, and tremendous leadership."

It was reported earlier Friday the Rangers were prepared to trade Trouba or waive him if no trading partner was found. He was going to be a healthy scratch for Friday night's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trouba, 30, reportedly waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the move.

Trouba has six assists in 24 games this season. He led New York with 68 blocks while averaging 20 minutes in ice time.

He is in the sixth season of a seven-year, $56-million US contract signed in July 2019 and carries an $8 million cap hit.

Drafted ninth overall by Winnipeg in 2012, Trouba has 73 goals and 315 points in 772 NHL regular-season games with the Jets (2013-19) and Rangers.

The free-falling Rangers (13-10-1) have dropped six of their last seven games, most recently a 5-1 home setback to the rival New Jersey Devils on Monday.

The Rangers recalled defenceman Victor Mancini, 22, from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday morning.

Vaakanainen, 25, was a first-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins in 2017 and has not yet reached the NHL. He has not played in the AHL this year due to an upper-body injury that's kept him on injured reserve.

Canucks goalie Demko to return Friday

All-star goalie Thatcher Demko will return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup Friday.

Head coach Rick Tocchet said Demko will back up Kevin Lankinen against the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.

It will be Demko's first game since April 21 when the Canucks beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

He suffered an injury to the popliteus muscle in his knee during the game and has been working his way back ever since.

When the 28-year-old netminder from San Diego, Calif., gets a start remains to be seen, but having Demko back in uniform is an important step, Tocchet said.

"He's a leader on the team. He's a different type of leader," the coach said after morning skate Friday.

"The guy works awfully hard. He's spent a lot of time by himself working out, he's here at 7 a.m. working with one trainer. So I think the what it's contagious to me is the hard work he does. The young guys see this stuff how dedicated he is. I see that really helps our locker room."