Coyotes reveal updated ask for star defenseman; the price is still pretty lofty, but apparently the Leafs are still in on him
After another rough start to the season for the Arizona Coyotes, they now sit second last in the Central Division with a 9-13-4 record. With the trade deadline in sight, contenders are keeping a close eye on the Jakob Chychrun situation. Keeping this in mind, the Coyotes have updated their asking price for the star defenseman.
For another consecutive year, the Coyotes are plummeting toward a good chance at the first overall draft pick. As we approach the March 3rd trade deadline, the Coyotes must consider all of their options, including moving the left-handed defenseman to obtain additional assets that will aid them in their rebuild.
As of now, the price is relatively high. The Coyotes are seeking two first-rounders, one second or a good prospect in return for Chychrun. Even though there is a hefty price tag tied to the addition of Chychrun, contenders are still interested as he now solidifies himself as one of the biggest names on the NHL trade market. Those mentioned include the Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, and most importantly, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Chychrun, the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, is playing in his seventh season, where he has tallied nine points in the ten games he has played. His upside comes through his style of play; he's an outstanding two-way player. At just twenty-four years old, Chychrun is a six-foot-two defenseman who is already logging twenty-three minutes a night.
On a downhill Coyotes team, which is all but good defensively, Chychrun has managed to still find success on both ends of the ice. Adding him to a legitimate contender with a support system could tremendously push Chychrun's abilities over the edge.
As for the Leafs, this deal may be more challenging to achieve than other teams. The Leafs have faced a thin blueline all year due to injuries and are prioritizing signing a defenseman to slot into their system immediately. Last season, they lost their 2023 second-round pick in the trade for Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell with the Kraken swap. Furthermore, I'd question the likeliness that they want to give away their first in this year's stacked first round.
If Dubas is all in on acquiring Chychrun, you have to wonder how he would pull it off. A possibility could be through utilizing their deep prospect pool. Throwing out names to the Coyotes like the up-and-coming Nick Robertson, Roni Hirvonen, Topi Niemela or another highly-rated prospect with whom to build a deal around. I have a hunch that Arizona might push hard for Arizona-born Matthew Knies in any deal with the Leafs involving Chychrun. That's something that the Leafs just should not even entertain. Also, if the Leafs could avoid trading this year's first-round draft pick entirely and opting to use their 2024 1st round pick instead, I think it's worth considering.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 12 | 318 ANSWERS Coyotes reveal updated ask for star defenseman; the price is still pretty lofty, but apparently the Leafs are still in on him Should the Leafs consider moving two 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick or a good prospect for Chychrun? | ||
| Yes | 67 | 21.1 % |
| No | 251 | 78.9 % |
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