Jakob Chychrun may have played his final game as an Arizona Coyote.
Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny made the reality of Chychrun’s situation very clear in his media availability on Monday afternoon: “He will remain out of the lineup until something happens.”
Chychrun missed the Coyotes’ 6–5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday for what the team called “trade-related reasons.” The same policy will be in effect on Monday evening as the Coyotes take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
Having been on the trade block since the start of the 2021-22 season, Chychrun’s name has circled the rumor mill with increasing frequency as the March 3 trade deadline nears.
The Coyotes originally selected Chychrun in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman has seven goals and 28 points while averaging 23:16 of ice time in 36 games with the Coyotes this year.
Chychrun is under contract with the Coyotes at a $4.6 million cap hit through the end of the 2024–25 season. His deal does not include any trade or movement protection.
Through 373 career NHL games with the Coyotes, Chychrun has amassed 60 goals and 170 points. He helped the Coyotes reach the playoffs in 2020 and has averaged at least 20 minutes per game in each of the last six seasons.
Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli linked Chychrun with the Los Angeles Kings in a report on Saturday evening. The Kings rank fourth in the Pacific Division with 65 points in 54 games this season; Arizona is currently seventh in the Central Division with 42 points in 53 games.
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