Did a highly coveted trade target just tip his hand and reveal that a deal to the Leafs would be his preference?
We are now well past the quarter-mark of the 2022-23 season and with the Christmas break fast approaching, the trade deadline is just around the corner. There are a number of intriguing names who are rumoured to be on the trading block, including one of the most talked about names over the past couple of seasons in Jakob Chychrun.
The Leafs have been linked to Chychrun on a number of occasions, but more recently, the chatter has seemed to pick up on this front, especially following the injury to Jake Muzzin and the uncertainty about his NHL future. Muzzin's absence leaves a gaping hole on the left side in the top four, even if the Buds have been far exceeding expectations in Muzzin's absence. There are a lot of pundits who believe that Chychrun is the Leafs' first preference if they do indeed receive some bad news regarding Muzzin's cervical spine injury in February when he is re-evaluated. But are the Leafs Chychrun's first preference as well? They just might be.
On Saturday afternoon, Chychrun posted a photo to his personal Instagram account of what looks like him arriving at the Arena in Arizona, sporting a "Drew House" sweater. For those who may not be aware, Drew House is the apparel company owned by Leafs superfan Justin Bieber.
Obviously, this could be a complete coincidence. Perhaps Chychrun simply likes the brand. But can you honestly say that, outside of Toronto, you've seen many NHLers sporting Drew House gear in public?
The Leafs have really been focused on getting young players into the lineup of late. Are they simply trying to showcase as many prospects as possible before the trade deadline? There are only so many roster spots available and the Leafs are certainly in "win now" mode, so it's possible that they're looking to package a few players and picks in a deal to add an impact piece and Chychrun is certainly that. It's also worth noting that there have been a lot of scouts present at Leafs games recently, including Thursday's game against the LA Kings, where scouts from nearly 20 different teams were in the house to take in the game - Arizona among them.
This will be an interesting situation to watch as we inch closer to the trade deadline.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 11 | 599 ANSWERS Did a highly coveted trade target just tip his hand and reveal that a deal to the Leafs would be his preference? Will Jakob Chychrun be a Leaf before the trade deadline? | ||
| Yes | 319 | 53.3 % |
| No | 280 | 46.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
