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Jets’ Jacob Trouba awarded $5.5 million in arbitration

Winnipeg Jets v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 4: Jacob Trouba #8 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on November 4, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Jets defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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Defenseman Jacob Trouba and the Winnipeg Jets were the first ones to head to arbitration this summer with what was reportedly a five-hour hearing on Friday.

On Sunday, it was finally announced that the arbitrator has awarded Trouba a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

That ruling pretty much split the two sides right down the middle as the Jets had offered Trouba a $4 million salary while Trouba had asked for $7 million.

The Jets now have 48 hours to decide if they will accept the ruling or walk away from it, which would then make Trouba an unrestricted free agent. There is virtually no chance the latter happens. The $5.5 million number would be a $2.5 million raise from his 2017-18 salary.

Trouba appeared in 55 games for the Jets this past season, scoring three goals to go with 21 assists.

The extended arbitration hearing -- as well as the fact they even needed arbitration -- is just another chapter in what has been a difficult story between the Jets and one of their top defenseman. Prior to the 2016-17 season Trouba requested a trade out of Winnipeg and sat out the first 15 games of the regular season before signing a two-year, $6 million contract.

Adam Gretz is a writer forPro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line atphtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.