The Arizona Coyotes received a Jakob Chychrun trade offer. While the team was not disclosed, many insiders believe it could be the New York Rangers making the offer. They are among about six teams who have been seriously rumoured to be after Chychrun’s services.
A Jakob Chychrun Trade Offer Has Been Made
It seems like the New York Rangers are making the first offer for Chychrun, but it has not been confirmed. What would the return be? Good question. Jeff Marek on 32 Thoughts gave another update on Hockey Night In Canada, giving some specific details on the Chychrun sweepstakes:
“They do have that [offer] from one team in the NHL as we speak now, essentially two former first-round players and a first-round draft pick. That auction though does continue. Los Angeles, Anaheim, Boston, Florida, may very well be the team to watch through all of this. The Rangers as well are in, they’ve offered a package that includes Vitali Kravtsov, and the Columbus Blue Jackets interested in the services of Jakob Chychrun as well.”
We all know that Kravtsov was given permission to seek a new team via trade. The Coyotes may have interest in adding him, but it will take more than that. Who could the other former first-rounder be? Perhaps either Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil or K’Andre Miller. Don’t forget Nils Lundkvist, who is a defenceman. Will the draft pick be for 2022 or 2023?
Let’s Examine the Possibilities of a New York Rangers Trade
Kaapo Kakko
While the former overall second draft choice in 2019 has been a slight disappointment, the Rangers may not be into letting him go quite yet. Still, new general manager Chris Drury may consider whether Kakko, 20 will develop into the player that thought he’d be when they drafted him. He has only 24 goals, 30 assists in 151 NHL games giving him 0.36 points per game average. He is coming off his entry-level contract for $925,000 and will be a restricted free agent after next season.
Trade Likelihood: remote
Filip Chytil
The left shooting centre was the 21st overall selection of the Rangers back in 2017. He has registered 38 goals, 44 assists in 224 games in New York. Filip Chytil is an adequate possession player with a Corsi For of 49.8, and a Relative Corsi of 3.9. He averages 0.37 points per game thus far in his NHL career. He may not be flashy, but he fits what the Coyotes are looking for as far as being a young prospect at 22-years-old. His contract is affordable at $2.3 million through next season.
Trade Likelihood: Possible
K’Andre Miller
Now, K’Andre Miller, 22 may be more of what the Coyotes need if losing Chychrun on the blueline happens. He stands 6′-5″, 210 pounds and was the 22nd overall pick in 2018 by the Rangers. Miller has averaged over 20 minutes of ice time and has seven goals, 14 assists over 95 games. He has three points over his last five games. His entry-level deal for $925,000 goes through next season. It is debatable if the Rangers want to move him since he could be in their long-term plans. But, as they say… you must give up something to get something in any trade.
Trade Likelihood: Very Possible
Nils Lundkvist
The 21-year-old Swede, Nils Lundkvist was the 28th overall pick in 2018 by the Rangers. He is on an ELC for $925,000 that expires after the 2024-25 season. Lundkvist has only played in 25 NHL games with one goal, three assists. He also has participated in five games in the AHL with Hartford, gaining one assist.
Trade Likelihood: Remote
Possibilities of a Florida Panthers Trade
Elliotte Friedman also mentioned a possibility of the Florida Panthers making a bid for Chychrun. What Friedman mentioned was a steep price to make a trade for Jakob Chychrun. Friedman and Marek figure it will take Spencer Knight, Anton Lundell and the Panthers 2023 first-round draft pick for a trade to be completed. Now, this may be a better fit and return for the Coyotes than the above New York Rangers trade possibility.
Some think that the Panthers will not want to give up Lundell and that is certainly understandable. He is just 20-years-old and hails from Espoo, Finland. He has logged some time on the penalty kill with over 100 minutes of ice time. His nine goals, 15 assists in 37 games put him in the top-five of NHL rookies this season. The Panthers may be able to survive without him since they are second in scoring in the NHL with 4.02 goals per game. Still, he is pegged to be their future #2 centre.
When discussing Spencer Knight, it is very obvious that the Coyotes need some goaltending. They traded away Darcy Kuemper and Adin Hill, and Antti Raanta signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. The two goalies they have on their roster this season are just not going to take them to the postseason anytime soon. Knight is just 20-years-old and has seen limited ice time. He carries an 8-5-2 record with a non-inspiring .896 save percentage along with a 3.31 GAA. It seems that starter Sergei Bobrovsky is doing just fine with a sparkling 20-3-3 record. He also carries a .925 save percentage with 2.38 goals-against average.
While the Panthers need a backup, how long does Knight need to wait to be a starting goalie? The Coyotes youth movement can use a goalie with Knight’s potential.
Final Analysis
Most Coyotes’ fans really don’t want to see Chychrun be traded, just as they didn’t want to see fan favourite Conor Garland dealt to Vancouver. Bill Armstrong has a plan, and it seems that while he may not be liking the idea of trading Chychrun, he is still examining what he could get for him. The above examples may only be a couple of possibilities to move the defenceman. He may not be traded at all if the return doesn’t satisfy Armstrong’s desires as he rebuilds the Desert Dogs.
One certainty is that if the Arizona Coyotes entertain a Jakob Chychrun trade offer, it will be one that advances their future potential to be an elite team. They will have plenty of draft picks to accomplish that goal. Now, we wait to see what actually transpires.
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