Coyotes defenseman Jakob ChychrunMichael Reaves/Getty Photos
Friday’s NHL commerce deadline is quickly approaching, and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun stays out there.
The gifted 24-year-old has been the subject of commerce buzz courting again to final season and would appear like a terrific goal for playoff contenders trying to purchase.
In line with TSN’s Darren Dreger, nevertheless, Chychrun is also a goal for the Washington Capitals—a staff under no circumstances within the postseason combine:
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
It is clear the Capitals are hoping to reset on the fly. Jake Chychrun is a participant of curiosity for Washington. Together with the first acquired from Boston, the Caps have the choose foreign money to make it work. The Chychrun saga has been ongoing since Nov, 2021.
On Monday evening, The Fourth Interval’s Dave Pagnotta reported that the Capitals have been nonetheless within the combine for Chychrun:
David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
I am informed discuss has picked up on the Jakob Chychrun entrance. It would not sound like a deal is imminent (as in tonight), nevertheless it’s heating up once more. Listening to the Kings, Capitals and Hurricanes are three of the groups very a lot within the combine. Coyotes making an attempt to get this finished by deadline.
At first blush, Washington’s reported curiosity might sound odd. That is, in spite of everything, a franchise that’s sitting on 29 wins and simply dealt Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway to the Boston Bruins.
When wanting on the long-term image, although, Chychrun would additionally make a ton of sense for the Capitals.
As Dreger identified, common supervisor Brian MacLellan is trying to rebuild shortly with younger high-upside gamers who can, ideally, return the staff to rivalry as early as subsequent season.
As The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir famous, Chychrun is simply the kind of participant MacLellan is looking for.
“It is unclear if MacLellan is keen to fulfill the Coyotes’ asking value, however Chychrun is precisely the kind of participant MacLellan hopes so as to add within the coming days, I am informed by a league supply,” he wrote.
Chychrun will not flip 25 till March 31, however he is already an skilled veteran who can contribute instantly. He is a high quality defender with offensive talent (28 factors in 36 video games this season) and a powerful all-around recreation who can log notable minutes with the primary or second unit.
Moreover, he’s beneath contract by the 2024-25 season with average cap hits of solely $4.6 million every year.
Chychrun would even be a logical substitute for the departed Orlov, additionally a left-handed defenseman. He might additionally function an insurance coverage coverage for defensemen Nick Jensen and Erik Gustafsson (one other lefty), whose futures aren’t fairly sure:
Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
The Caps as late as final week have been nonetheless having contract talks with pending UFA D Nick Jensen and Erik Gustafsson. In fact, they have been additionally speaking contract with Dmitry Orlov… surprise in the event that they nonetheless attempt to signal Jensen or Gustafsson, or commerce one or each now…
In line with El-Bashir, MacLellan is listening to provides for gamers reminiscent of Jensen, Gustafsson, Conor Sheary and Trevor van Riemsdyk, although he is open to re-signing all of them for the correct value and if he can not get a high quality return in a commerce.
The price of buying Chychrun, after all, might be a significant factor. Washington must be hesitant to overpay, particularly contemplating his damage historical past—he has by no means performed a full season. For a staff that was closely hampered by accidents this 12 months, that is an actual concern.
In line with The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek, Arizona is looking for “the equal of three first-rounders” in a Chychrun commerce—a sizeable package deal of picks, prospects and/or gamers.
Nonetheless, that is not an unreasonable value level, given his mixture of age, expertise and contract standing.
Craig Morgan @CraigSMorgan
Are GMs nonetheless making an attempt to promote the concept, with a straight face, that the asking value for Jakob Chychrun is just too excessive?
With a number of strong defensemen on the buying and selling block, together with Vladislav Gavrikov and Mattias Ekholm, the Coyotes could also be keen to accept lower than they’d in a less-saturated market.
MacLellan can get half approach to the asking value by together with Boston’s first-round choice, although, per El-Bashir, he is unwilling to commerce Washington’s personal first-rounder.
“It is believed MacLellan is keen to incorporate Boston’s choose in a deal to land a participant like Chychrun because the choice is prone to be late within the first spherical,” he wrote. “MacLellan doesn’t, nevertheless, wish to transfer his personal.”
Washington might embrace a second-round choose, a future draft choose or two and/or a prospect like Connor McMichael or Hendrix Lapierre. If the Capitals can cling onto their very own first-round choice, which may very well be very excessive, this looks as if a really cheap commerce.
MacLellan would primarily be buying and selling a few picks/prospects to swap out the 31-year-old Orlov—who might be a free agent this summer time—for a a lot youthful defenseman with upside, a decrease cap hit and two full years of staff management.
For a franchise that’s trying to rebuild shortly, that is a deal that must be seen as a giant win and one which warrants heavy consideration over the subsequent few days.
