Jakob Chychrun, a highly regarded defenseman in the NHL, has recently removed all references to the Arizona Coyotes from his social media bios, leading fans and analysts to believe that a trade is imminent.
Chychrun, 24, was drafted 16th overall in the 2016 NHL draft by the Coyotes and has since played 371 games with the team, recording 58 goals and 109 assists for a total of 167 points. His impressive play has not gone unnoticed, as rumors of a trade have been circulating for over a year now.
With his contract set to run until the 2024-2025 season, Chychrun’s AAV of $4.6 million has made him a target for many top NHL teams looking to bolster their defensive lines. As the trade deadline approaches, fans and analysts alike are speculating on which team will land the talented young defenseman, who could play an important role in a deep playoff run for whoever acquires him.
Chychrun’s removal of the Coyotes from his social media bios is seen as a clear indication that a trade is on the horizon, and it has only fueled the excitement surrounding his future. As one of the top young defensemen in the league, he will bring a decent amount of experience and plenty of skill to whichever team he joins.
Many top teams have been linked to the star defenseman, including the Boston Bruins who are steamrolling the league, as well as the Carolina Hurricanes who recently freed up some cap space due to Pacioretty’s injury. The Vegas Golden Knights also lost Mark Stone recently to injury, if he is on LTIR that frees up some room for the Knights who have been struggling as of late. Many other teams not mentioned here could also be in the race, with Chychrun’s $4.6M AAV being substantially easier to fit under the cap compared to other defenseman on the market like Erik Karlsson who has a $11.5M AAV. Of course Karlsson is more talented, but you get the point. A highly skilled defenseman with a good contract, Chychrun could end up on just about any contender.
