Months in the Making; Jakob Chychrun is Finally an Ottawa Senator

Two days ago, veteran forward Derick Brassard said, “I honestly think we’ve earned the right for Pierre to add a player at the deadline. We’re trying to get to the next step.”

After back-to-back blowout victories over the Detroit Red Wings, Senators’ general manager Pierre Dorion was certainly buying what his players were selling.

Two weeks ago, Dorion said “The next seven games are pivotal” in determining if his club would be buyers or sellers come the trade deadline on March 3 at 3 pm ET.

The team posted a record of 4-2-1 to launch themselves into the thick of the race for a Wildcard berth. And the Senators GM delivered as promised, acquiring much sought-after defenseman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes – a player that’s been on the club’s radar for the better part of a year or more.

Dorion had been seeking a top-four, preferably right-shot blueliner for what seemed like eons. While he didn’t land a d-man who possesses a right shot, Chychrun is more than capable of slotting on either side, whether he lines up with Thomas Chabot on the first D-pair or with rookie Jake Sanderson on the second which is more probable.

Sanderson also has the ability to play the right side as he did so on occasion in his collegiate career at the University of North Dakota.

The magnificent aspect regarding this trade, Dorion was able to pry Chychrun who turns 25, on March 31, out of Arizona without removing a key player from his roster or a top prospect. The belief is Coyotes’ GM Bill Armstrong had requested forward Ridly Greig and/or goalie Mads Sogaard in past discussions.

The Senators dealt a conditional 2023 first-round pick, a conditional 2024 second-round pick via Washington received in the Connor Brown trade, and a 2026 second-round pick.

The conditions on the picks are as follows:

The 2023 first-round pick is top-five protected. If the Senators draft in the top five, the pick will revert to an unprotected 2024 first-round selection.

If the Senators reach the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, the 2024 second-round pick becomes a top-ten protected first-rounder.

If each of these instances occur, the pick becomes a 2025 first-round pick.

For the time being the acquisition of Chychrun leaves the Senators without a 2023 selection until the fourth round.

In a statement released via Twitter, Dorion said, Chychrun is “A defenceman we’ve coveted, Jakob is big and plays imposing. He possesses a quality skill set; he defends hard and is highly skilled. He uses his heavy shot with accuracy and is effective at creating offence as a threat at the offensive blue line.” 

Now donning no. 6️⃣ for your #Sens, @j_chychrun7!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/AbB8jTnQrU

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 2, 2023

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Born in Boca Raton, FL, Chychrun is no stranger to the Ottawa area, spending parts of summers at the family cottage on White Lake, only an hour away from the Canadian Tire Centre.

Chychrun joins the long line of Senators’ players whose fathers played in the NHL.

Jakob’s dad, Jeff spent the majority of his 262 games played with the Philadelphia Flyers between 1986-84. And his uncle is none other than former Senators defenseman and assistant coach, Luke Richardson.

The Coyotes’ 2016 16th overall selection arrives at the perfect time for the Senators, The team is currently five points out of the final Wildcard berth held by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The pair of wins over the Red Wings thrust them in the pack with the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres, along with Detroit who are all competing for that coveted spot.

An important factor in the deal is that the six-foot-two, 210-pound rearguard is signed for two more years at a reasonable $4.6 million cap hit.

A plus-8 on a team that’s the league’s fifth-worst, Jakob Chychrun has garnered seven goals, and 21 assists this season in only 37 games – this after returning from a lingering wrist injury.

Over seven NHL campaigns, Chychrun has registered 60 goals, and 110 assists in 373 games, all with the Coyotes.

Like Brassard who is slated to play in his 1000th regular season game at Madison Square Garden versus the Rangers Thursday, Brady Tkachuk was excited at the possibility of adding a player for the stretch drive.

“So now I know it’s really exciting to be here. But we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. But for me, this is kind of a unique to me. I haven’t been a part of a push before – part of potentially buying, and adding players. And whatever happens, happens. Just know we’re gonna keep going and keep pushing,” said the Senators’ captain postgame Tuesday.

With the addition of Chychrun to the Senators’ blue line, Dorion isn’t likely finished. The Senators’ GM is seeking to acquire bottom six help to add to his forward core rather than subtract in previous years. And his players and Senators’ fans are appreciative of that.