Ranking Jakob Chychrun Trade Possibilities

Jakob Chychrun’s trade possibilities have been spread about endlessly. It’s time to evaluate the logical destinations with just 39 days left before the March 3rd trade deadline. There’s no doubt that NHL teams are racking their brains and bankbooks to determine how they can meet general manager Bill Armstrong‘s trade return demands. It’s really quite simple for Armstrong seeing that he really doesn’t NEED to trade his top defenseman. He’s still under contract through the 2024-25 season at a very reasonable $4.6 million.

Evaluating the List of NHL Teams Interested in Chychrun  – 1 thru 6

This list has to be taken in conjunction with the cap space capabilities of each team pursuing Chychrun. Another consideration is their availability and agreement to move draft picks. And, then of course what prospects they have to entice Armstrong to consummate a deal. Let’s go down the list to see where each team may rank in the Chychrun sweepstakes.

1) Boston Bruins – This may be a shocker, but keep in mind that the Bruins own the best record in the NHL currently standing at 36-5-4 good for 76 points. Their .844 points percentage shows they are a team that Chychrun would love to join. Why? Because they have a great chance of winning the Cup. What can the Bruins offer in return? Matt Grzelcyk plus their first-round pick for starters. Then, one of Fabian Lysell or Mason Lohrei to fill the prospect request. This one makes sense since the Bruins are going all-in to win a Cup before Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire. This option has a lot of merit when you think it through.

2) Ottawa Senators – The Sens have had interest in Chychrun for awhile. They have merely delayed any action thinking that Armstrong may lower his return demands. It seems they have no interest in parting ways with Shane Pinto, and that may be wise. It may make more sense to trade Erik Brannstrom instead. Of course, they want to dump Nikita Zaitsev and his $4.5 million contract. Whether Armstrong goes for that is yet to be determined.

3) Los Angeles Kings – The Kings have been hot and cold as to if they want to deal for Chychrun. They make the most sense since they have a long list of prospects. Sean Walker, Sean Durzi, Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence are all expected to be on the Coyotes’ radar, with Walker being the likely choice if it was solely up to the Kings.

4) Anaheim Ducks – The Ducks have over $31 million in cap space… check. They are a young and growing team with future stars like Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale and Mason McTavish. But, are they open to moving any of them? They also have three second-round picks for 2023, and their first-round choice as well. While the Ducks have a worse record than the Coyotes, Chychrun has no trade protection and therefore no say in a trade choice.

5) Columbus Blue Jackets – With Vladislav Gavrikov on the trading block, the Jackets would love to have a top-four blueliner like Chychrun to replace him. At the NHL Draft, there were rumors that the Blue Jackets had interest in a Jakob Chychrun trade, but it fell through. Apparently, Chychrun wasn’t too thrilled about going to Columbus, but then Johnny Gaudreau happened and he changed his tune. The Coyotes may demand David Jiricek as a return which could nix any deal. We shall see.

6) Edmonton Oilers – The rumors of Chychrun heading to Edmonton have sustained time. Like many teams, the salary cap may inhibit the Oilers from pulling the trigger. A proposed trade listed in oliernation.com listed the  Coyotes sending Chychrun and either Christian Fischer or Nick Bjugstad to the Oilers for Jesse Puljujarvi, Philip Broberg and Derek Ryan. It is the only way to make the salaries be comparable. This trade would help both teams.  Then, another scenario popped up sending Chychrun Edmonton bound.

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Evaluating the List of NHL Teams Interested in Chychrun – 7 thru 12

7) Toronto Maple Leafs – Again, here is a team that seems very interested in Chychrun. Back around Thanksgiving, this writer had an article with a proposed trade with the Leafs sending Chychrun to Toronto. While Chychrun certainly favored going to the Maple Leafs, the prospective trade didn’t seem too appealing for the Arizona team. The Jakob Chychrun trade details were as such:

Arizona Receives: Rasmus Sandin, Pierre Engvall, Wayne Simmonds, 2023 3rd Round Pick, 2024 2nd Round Pick

Toronto Receives: Jakob Chychrun (50 percent retained), Barrett Hayton, 2023 4th Round Pick

8) St. Louis Blues – The Blues came into the Chychrun rumor mill over the summer (shows how long Chychrun has been in the trade news). Another article by this writer detailed the Blues return for Chychrun. It had center    Zachary Bolduc, defenseman Niko Mikkola, and left-wing Klim Kostin. The real jewel in this deal is the draft picks going to Arizona. They would receive a 2022 fourth-rounder, a 2023 first-rounder, and a 2024 third-rounder.

9) Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres rumors started just recently. Friedman stated in his radio show that a Chychrun trade to the Sabres makes sense. Elliotte feels the Sabres are getting pushed around a little too much and with Chychrun being a bigger guy (6’2″, 210lbs) would be a perfect fit for the playoff-contending team. Friedman is not convinced Sabres management will pay the steep price of two first-round picks and a top prospect.

10) New York Islanders – They have $3.57 million in cap space and could use a top blueline player. Chychrun could move right in the first-pairing and help the defensive-minded Islanders. The sticking point may be the return. The team may not want to relinquish their draft picks, which puts them lower on this list of possibilities.

11) Minnesota Wild – The Wild rumors about the Minnesota club occurred recently. It seems that Matt Dumba was a healthy scratch due to some poor play and the rumors started circulating that he was about to be traded. It was not happening that way, and it would have been very complicated to send Dumba away and get a return that the Wild could use to obtain Chychrun.

12) Florida Panthers – While Chuchran hails from Florida and was the Panthers’ 16th overall draft selection before it was traded to Arizona in 2016, it doesn’t mean he is headed to Florida. There are a number of reasons, but the most paramount would be the Panthers’ lack of a first-rounder for the next three years. They’ve traded them away already. That kinda kills any projected trade that GM Armstrong in Arizona would be interested in.

Final Analysis

A Jakob Chychrun trade WILL happen… eventually. One must admire the patience and fortitude that GM Bill Armstrong has displayed. He’s like a poker player who knows he has a good hand and is waiting for the other players to throw down their money in the pot. It is just hoped for all the Coyotes’ fans that a trade works out for the future of the team. That is what Armstrong is attempting to do, and he’s very good at what he does.

For Chychrun who has played his entire NHL career spanning seven seasons thus far in Arizona, he wants to win… and hopefully, he’ll land on a team who can fulfill that wish.

Prediction:

Chychrun will be headed to the Boston Bruins. He could be hoisting the Cup next summer… think about it.