The Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes are heating up. Rumours of where he could end upkeep piling up by the day and new teams emerge with each passing second. One team that has emerged is the New Jersey Devils. While having one of the best prospect pools in the league, it is a move that Tom Fitzgerald could pull off.
Devils Emerge As A Landing Spot For Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun
Lyle Richardson from Bleacher Report, mentions the New Jersey Devils as a potential landing spot.
The Arizona Coyotes are rebuilding, and that is no secret to anyone. However, despite the Devils being in a rebuild themselves, they are closer to contention, or at least taking that next step forward. Based on the asking price the Coyotes want, the Devils have the ammunition to pull off such a move. In no way shape or form are the Devils parting with Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, but they do boast other young guns in Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz. But should they?
What Makes Chychrun Appealing
Arizona Coyotes defenceman Chychrun is an appealing talent. He has a team-friendly salary cap hit of $4.6 million for the next three seasons. Chychrun is no slouch of a player either. The guy can play both sides of the blue line, which is a plus, and at 24 years old fits the mould of the Devils’ young group.
JAKOB CHYCHRUN (@j_chychrun7)! @Enterprise HAT TRICK! pic.twitter.com/daAhs6xPW8
— NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2021
Chychrun is a talented puck-moving defenseman who can also play on the power play. Despite the injuries he has suffered as of late when he is on his A game, he looks like a valid number one defenseman. He had a career season two seasons ago where he set career highs in goals (18), assists (23), and points (41). Chychrun also chipped in with 14 points on the power play. A top pair of Chychrun and Hamilton would be entertaining to watch and to see. But does he fit on the current roster?
Does He Fit?
There is a fit for Chychrun on the Devils’ blue line. Based on the current roster preview, the right side is stout with guys such as Dougie Hamilton, Damon Severson, and John Marino. Severson is up for an extension where the Devils have not even begun talks yet, and Marino is locked up for five more years. Nemec is waiting in the wings, and for the foreseeable future, the right side looks great.
The left is where there is a fit. The only defenseman locked in the long-term is Jonas Siegenthaler, who signed a five-year extension this off-season. Ryan Graves is due for a new contract, and prized draft pick Luke Hughes is not far away. So there is a spot left, but it mortgaging the future worth it?
The Verdict
Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun is a highly coveted talent. The asking price for Chychrun is a first-round pick and a prospect. Even though the Devils are projected to take the next steps forward, they aren’t among the elite contenders in the East. Not yet, anyway. Even though they have the tools to pull off such a deal, they should stay away from this deal. The team should see progress and not be in the basement, but there’s no reason to rush into such a move. The team has good core pieces that are worth building around and should not be mortgaged off just yet.
The Devils will be a team to watch for as they aim to get out of the black hole they’ve been stuck in. But until they do, I believe they should stay away and build around what they have right now.
