Arizona Coyotes make Jakob Chychrun healthy scratch for ‘trade-related reasons’

The Arizona Coyotes have made defenseman Jakob Chychrun a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, citing “trade-related reasons.”

ROSTER UPDATE: Coyotes D Jakob Chychrun is a healthy scratch tonight versus the St. Louis Blues due to trade related reasons. F Liam O'Brien is day to day with an upper body injury. Defensemen Victor Soderstrom & Dysin Mayo have been recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).

— Arizona Coyotes PR (@AZCoyotesPR) February 12, 2023

Chychrun, 24, is in the midst of an excellent rebound season with the Coyotes. The Boca Raton, FL product has seven goals and 28 points while averaging 23:16 in 36 games this year.

Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli indicated Saturday evening there is “lots of smoke” connecting Chychrun with the Los Angeles Kings — “but no confirmed fire yet.” Seravalli ranked Chychrun in the No. 3 spot on his latest Trade Targets board.

Lots of smoke connecting #LAKings with Jakob Chychrun, but no confirmed fire yet. And so, we wait.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 12, 2023

In corresponding roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game, the Coyotes recalled defensemen Victor Soderstrom and Dysin Mayo from the American Hockey League’s Tucson Roadrunners.

Chychrun is signed at a $4.6 million annual cap hit through the end of the 2024–25 season, at which point he’ll be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. His deal does not include any trade protection.

The Coyotes originally selected Chychrun in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The 6’2″, 220-pound left-handed defenseman made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in 2016–17 and helped the club reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2020.

Chychrun emerged as a top goal-scoring threat with the Coyotes in 2020–21, recording 18 goals and 41 points while appearing in all 56 games during the shortened season. He missed nearly half of the 2021–22 season while dealing with various injuries.

Through 373 career games with the Coyotes, Chychrun has amassed 60 goals and 170 points. PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan reported Saturday he doesn’t think a deal is “imminent” but added “it’s possible before Monday’s game in Nashville with the trade deadline nearing.”

Soderstrom, 21, is the Coyotes’ top defense prospect. The 5’11”, 184-pound right-handed defenseman has two goals and 21 points in 44 games with the Roadrunners this season. The Coyotes originally selected Soderstrom in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.

Mayo, 26, has been in the Coyotes organization since being selected in the fifth round (No. 133 overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft. The 6’2″, 183-pound right-handed defender has two goals and seven points in 24 games with Tucson this year; before being assigned to the AHL, Mayo failed to record a point in 13 NHL games with the Coyotes.

The Coyotes and Blues are set to hit the ice at Enterprise Center at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday evening.