Report: Coyotes, Blue Jackets discussing Chychrun
The Arizona Coyotes are once again exploring potential Jakob Chychrun trades.
The Central Division club is talking to the Columbus Blue Jackets about the defenseman, reports Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch.
The Blue Jackets hold the sixth and 12th overall picks in this week's draft. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said he would trade one or both of those selections for immediate help if he received a young, exciting NHL player with several years remaining on his contract.
Chychrun is signed through 2024-25 at a $4.6-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly. The 24-year-old is a strong two-way blue-liner who missed 35 games due to injury this past season but still produced nearly half a point per contest with 21 in 47.
The six-year veteran was one of the best players available leading up to the March 21 trade deadline before getting hurt about a week beforehand. Arizona reportedly wanted a package resembling the hefty haul the Buffalo Sabres got from the Vegas Golden Knights for Jack Eichel.
The Blue Jackets were apparently one of the numerous teams interested in Chychrun at the time. Immediately after the deadline, Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong said the "pieces just weren't there" to move him.
Chychrun didn't appear to oppose a move elsewhere when discussing in late April how he'd feel if Arizona chose not to deal him this offseason.
Jakob Chychrun on if he'd be OK if not being traded this summer: "I don't know. I'm signed for 3 more years. The trajectory of where the team is going & a lot of that stuff is important to me. I want to be in a position where I'm getting to play a week from now, not packing up."
- Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) April 30, 2022
Heading into 2021-22, the Coyotes traded away multiple core pieces to stockpile draft picks and prospects. They finished with the second-worst record in the NHL this past campaign.
The Blue Jackets shipped out prized rearguard Seth Jones last July, netting young defenseman Adam Boqvist and three picks, including the sixth overall choice Thursday night.
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