Jakob Chychrun has been a hot name the past year, and it seems things could start heating up again. With the trade deadline slowly approaching, we could see a blockbuster trade on the horizon.
Chychrun, only 24 years old, was selected 16th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. So far this year, he has just 26 games under his belt as he was recovering from wrist surgery. In those 26 games, he has five goals and sixteen assists. Chychrun had his best year during the 2020-21 season, where we saw him notch 18 goals, adding 23 assists.
With his hot start, several teams are interested in him; who are those teams, and what could a possible return be?
Potential Fits in a Jakob Chychrun Trade
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have been in the mix since the very beginning. So far this season, the Kings are off to quite the start. Through 45 games played so far, they are 25-15-6 with 56 points which puts them two points outside first, only behind the Vegas Golden Knights. With another piece like Chychrun, this team could elevate their game to another level. After making the playoffs last year for the first time since 2018, Chychrun could help a lot. With a heavy prospect pool, they have several pieces to put together that could convince the Coyotes.
With the likes of Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and Rasmus Kupari, there is no shying away from some good prospects. If Chychrun were to be traded to the Kings, general manager Rob Blake would have to get creative to add Chychrun’s salary, as his Kings are up against the $82.5 million cap. With that being the case, some names that come to mind are forward Alex Iafallo and defenseman Sean Walker. Although these two wouldn’t seal the deal for the Coyotes, they would likely have to add some of the prospects listed above and some draft capital.
The Kings would undoubtedly be in the conversation to be legit contenders if they made a move like this. This would help them get Drew Doughty some help on the blueline and push toward a Stanley Cup.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres are another team that could be interested in Jakob Chychrun. Sabres currently sit in the middle of the pack having a 20-18-2 record and placing 5th in the Atlantic. Looking like they are only a couple of pieces away from competing; Chychrun would be a huge addition. Unlike the Kings, the Sabres won’t have any cap issues if they were to acquire Chychrun.
The Sabres currently have more than enough picks that could suit the Coyotes. Not only do they have enough draft picks, but they also have plenty of prospects that could interest the Coyotes. Some of those include Isak Rosen, Devon Levi, and J.J. Peterka. Buffalo has been rebuilding for quite some time, and getting a young defenseman like Chychrun would be huge. Pairing him with the likes of Owen Power or Rasmus Dahlin would make for an exciting duo for the coming years.
Throughout the years’ Buffalo has been pretty active throughout the season regarding trades. Some big trades that come to mind are Jack Eichel to Vegas and Sam Reinhart to Florida.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators are the clear favourites out of the three teams. Pierre Dorion has been interested in the sweepstakes since what seemed like the very beginning. Last summer, the Senators made a huge trade acquiring Alex DeBrincat, which made many think they were legit. They also signed veteran forward and longtime Flyer Claude Giroux. Given these moves, they have been a bit underwhelming this year, with a 19-20-3 record. Despite all this, they have still been in the mix for the 24-year-old.
Similar to the Kings and Sabres, the Senators have plenty of prospects that could entice the Coyotes and Bill Armstrong. Some popular names that come to mind are Ridly Greig, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Roby Jarventie. The Senators still have their first, and second-round draft picks for this upcoming draft which could also pay dividends. It has been reported that the Senators are willing to trade a high draft pick and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev who carries a $4.5 million cap hit.
With the Coyotes in no rush to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, taking on Zaitsev’s contract and prospects/picks for Jakob Chychrun may be the move.
Conclusion
To say the Coyotes have options is an understatement, as plenty of teams have shown interest in the young blueliner. Armstrong and company are in no need to rush and make a trade. All three of these teams provide what the Coyotes are looking for, young prospects and more draft capital.
The Coyotes still have roughly three months until the trade deadline, so it’ll be interesting to see if Chychrun is traded at the deadline or the draft.
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