With the Trade Deadline only 72 hours away, discussions are heating up surrounding some big names on the market. This includes Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Despite only being acquired by the Senators on March 1st, 2023 from the Coyotes, Chychrun’s name has been the subject of trade rumors all season.
According to NHL insider Darren Dreger, action around Chychrun has picked up thanks to the D market quickly shrinking. In the last week, we’ve seen blueliners Chris Tanev, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Kurtis MacDermid all get moved. Some teams who still find themselves with a need for defense may be pushing hard for Chychrun.
Dreger adds that two playoff runs with Chychrun may be worth the asking price the Senators are seeking. Chychrun, who leads all Senators defensemen in points, is currently on a very team-friendly deal. He’ll cost only $4,600,000 against the cap through the 2024-25 season. At the conclusion of his deal, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
This news is a perfect example of how quickly things can change around Trade Deadline season. On February 27th, Dreger was on TSN 1200 radio in Ottawa and stated that it would be unlikely that Chychrun would be moved before the March 8th deadline. Just a week later, the narrative has changed, and action on the Senators defenseman is heating up. Chychrun shut down trade rumors earlier in the season and has continuously been vocal in his commitment to the Senators.
Which Teams are Interested?
The Fourth Period states that there are five teams reportedly linked to Chychrun. The Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings have all been keeping tabs on the 25-year-old. With the Senators once again falling well short of playoff expectations, Staios may be inclined to trade a core player like Chychrun to shake things up with his group. Something’s got to give in Ottawa, is another Chychrun trade on the horizon?
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