Capitals 2022-23 Trade Targets: Jakob Chychrun

The Washington Capitals’ biggest issue right now is on the back end, where they have struggled to find strong enough depth to make a solid run in recent years. One of the biggest names involved in trade rumors is Arizona Coyotes blueliner Jakob Chychrun. His name has been thrown around for a couple of seasons now, and it seems to be a matter of time before he’s moved. This article will dive into the positives of trading for such a big-name player, and why it would benefit the team long-term.

Who Is Jakob Chychrun & How Does He Benefit The Capitals?

Chychrun is a 24-year-old left-handed defenseman from Boca Raton, Florida currently playing for the Coyotes. He was selected in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Coyotes at 16th overall. He was able to make their NHL roster in the 2016-17 season where as a rookie, scored seven goals and added 13 assists for 20 points through 68 games. He is currently in his seventh season with the Coyotes and has a career-high of 41 points which he achieved during the 2020-21 season through 56 games. Through his 371-game career, he has 58 goals and 109 assists for 167 points.

Chychrun spent his junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sarnia Sting, where he was an alternate captain for both seasons he played with them. Through 104 games with the Sting, he was able to score 27 goals and add 55 assists for 82 points. During his draft year in the 2015-16 season, he established himself as a dominant two-way defenseman that had a knack for generating offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Chychrun has been able to transfer his junior success to the NHL level. He was named an alternate captain of the Coyotes during the 2021-22 season and has remained one ever since. He has also been able to continue his strong play as a two-way defenseman that makes the right decisions and doesn’t get caught out of position often.