The hottest trade rumor since last season’s trade deadline continues to garner attention. After months of back and forth between teams around the league and the Arizona Coyotes, it seems a deal is closer than ever, one insider has reported.
Now that the Arizona Coyotes were finally able to showcase Chychrun’s talent this season after he missed the first 16 games to start the season, talks are heating up. Already the hottest trade bait for a year, his stock continues to climb with his impressive outings once again this season.
As per TSN’s Darren Dreger:
”Obviously, we’re at a point in the regular season where the pressure on GMs and owners is increasing … You then have to put that aside and watch Chychrun play. Since his return, he has played seven games and has three goals and three assists. He is an imposing defender, and his shot is a bomb.”
At only 24 years old, he is averaging 22:20 minutes of on-ice time through 10 games this season on a bad Coyotes team that finds them second to last in the Central Division with 22 points. The only team worse than them in the division is the Chicago Blackhawks, who have 18 points.
In only ten games, Chychrun has made a difference, as he’s been elite at both ends of the ice. He has recorded three goals and six assists for nine points while shutting down the opponent’s best players on a nightly basis. Even on a bad team, he has managed a plus-6 rating showing the impact he can have when on the ice.
One of the main reasons the trade has been held up is the reported asking price that back in November was finally revealed. It was reported that Arizona GM Bill Armstrong’s asking price for the defenseman still remains high, with the Coyotes wanting multiple first-round picks and an NHL Prospect or youngster in exchange.
While this is a big ask for a return, Dreger continues to explain:
”There are still clubs interested in his services who find the price set by general manager Bill Armstrong too high, but I think there is a group of teams who realize that they may not have the choice to pay it.”
What makes the Florida native so coveted, besides his elite talent, is the fact he is currently in the fourth year of a six-year, $27.6 million contract, which comes with an AAV of $4.6 million. His current contract is a steal for the return he brings and would greatly benefit a contender with a championship window between this season and over the next couple of years.
Chychrun has mostly been linked to the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators.
