Rumors about a transfer of Jacob Trouba from the Rangers to Detroit are increasing

LAS VEGAS — There was Céline Dion — yes, that Céline Dion — on the podium representing the Canadiens and announcing their fifth overall pick, Ivan Demidov.

This wasn’t your grandfather’s NHL draft.

There were frills, glitter and plenty of jazz at The Sphere, which, as Gary Bettman noted, hosted the “most dazzling (draft) yet.”

Unfortunately, it was also the last centralized NHL draft after nearly five decades of the league meeting at a select location in late June. Next year, the NHL will move to a remote draft conducted similarly to the NFL and NBA.

This is a function of cost and also the condensed calendar, in which free agency takes place just two days after the conclusion of the draft on Saturday. The new path is arguably more effective, but something will be lost when the kaleidoscope of NHL management personnel no longer converge on the draft floor.

This was a theatrical night, with Jim Dolan’s team putting on a show-stopping show. This was The Sphere’s creative team, not necessarily the hockey team. That will have to wait until the free agent market opens on Monday after GM Chris Drury’s effort to move up from No. 30 overall never got off the ground.

And until Jacob Trouba’s transfer ban is also converted into a no-transfer clause for 15 teams on Monday, as the prospect of the defender leaving New York after five seasons becomes increasingly strong.

In fact, a well-placed source told the Washington Post that GM Chris Drury is working on a deal to send the captain to the Red Wings, a trade the Michigan native would likely accept after playing for the Wolverines as a freshman during the 2012-13 season.

We’re told the Rangers can withhold $2.5 million per year from Trouba’s $8 million annual salary cap hit for the two remaining seasons. That’s a 31.25 percent withholding that would also count toward the $12 million salary Trouba is due over the next two seasons.

If this deal does result in that amount, it would free up another $5.5 million in cap space… However, the Blueshirts would then have to find an adequate replacement for the team’s strongest and most dangerous player, who has secured a spot in their first shorthanded unit.

They also had to accept that the captaincy had to be vacated just two seasons after Trouba’s appointment.

The Rangers and Red Wings appear to be vying for the services of Patrick Kane, who becomes a free agent on Monday unless he signs a contract extension with Detroit. The Post has reported that Drury and the executive team have eyed Kane for a Broadway revival.

But Drury and Detroit GM Steve Yzerman could also vie to sign Steven Stamkos, who is heading to the free agent market after the 34-year-old turned down Tampa Bay’s last offer, which was reportedly $24 million over eight seasons.

If the Blueshirts do manage to free up the additional $5.5 million in a Trouba trade, they would have nearly $21.1 million in cap space to fill a shadow roster with nine forwards, three defensemen (not including soon-to-be free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider) and two goalies.

Although the Rangers look to be in a good position, the big break won’t come until 2025-26, when Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller will be playing under new contracts. Not so fast with play-money offers for free agents.

Stamkos is 34. He doesn’t have the eligibility for a one-year deal with bonuses like Kane, who turns 36 in October. It’s hard to imagine why Stamkos would demand less money to come to New York than to Detroit or another location, but Drury will surely make his offer. Kane is also believed to prefer a two- or three-year deal to a second consecutive one-year deal.

The Rangers missed the theatrics that were in the air here Friday, failing in their attempt to move up from 30th overall and instead selecting right-handed defenseman EJ Emery out of the U.S. Development Program.

But don’t worry. Just wait a few days.

Jack Rose!