Eight potential trade destinations for Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun

Credit: Mar 27, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Speculating on Jakob Chychrun trade destinations feels like a glitch in the Matrix. We’ve been in this position before. It feels like we just were. Not only was he a top target leading up to the 2023 Trade Deadline, when the Ottawa Senators nabbed him, but with the Sens out of contention by winter this season, teams were sniffing around the athletic left-handed blueliner again. As recently as January, I broke down a list of potential Chychrun landing spots.

Yet here we are again, nine days from the 2024 NHL Draft, and Chychrun’s name floats around the rumor mill as he enters the final year of his contract. He sits at No. 7 on my colleague Frank Seravalli’s most recent Trade Targets board. The Senators already have $16.05 million committed annually to left-shot blueliners Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot through 2031-32 and 2027-28, respectively. Given the depth chart redundancy, it’s difficult to imagine Ottawa re-signing Chychrun, who will earn a major raise over his $4.6 million AAV. He’s 26. He can play both sides. He’s fifth among all defensemen in goals over the past five seasons – despite missing 69 games between 2021-22 and 2022-23. Coming off a season in which he played all 82 games and re-established his durability, he has cause to command $7 million a year on his next deal.

If the fit doesn’t make sense for Ottawa GM Steve Staios long-term, he will have plenty of suitors at his door, and we could see Chychrun moved in the next week or two. Which teams make the most sense as fits? Consider these eight.

Boston Bruins

Why he makes sense: The Bruins’ defensive depth is thin, to the point they spent much of 2023-24 with coach Jim Montgomery dividing Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy onto different pairs. Three of their regulars in Matt Grzelcyk, Kevin Shattenkirk and Derek Forbort are UFAs. Chychrun would represent their best goal-scoring threat from the point since prime Zdeno Chara. The Bruins have at least one available piece we know Ottawa wants in goaltender Linus Ullmark, who would represent only a $400,000 cap hit difference in a 1-for-1 exchange.

Fly in the ointment: Given the emergence of left-shot youngster Mason Lohrei this season, are we sure defense is an area for which Boston should burn its trade capital and cap space? What the Bruins need more than anything is higher-end scoring up front to support David Pastrnak, especially if Jake DeBrusk walks as a UFA. Chychrun feels like somewhat of a luxury. And if GM Don Sweeney decides to hold Ullmark, the Bruins might be too asset-poor to offer Ottawa something enticing enough.

Chicago Blackhawks

Why he makes sense: For one, we know the Blackhawks, armed with roughly $33 million in cap space, would like to build something more competitive around Connor Bedard for next season. If GM Kyle Davidson is loath to sign any veterans long term so early in his rebuild, Chychrun would fit nicely as a rental who can be flipped at the 2025 deadline. As a bonus: Chicago head coach Luke Richardson just happens to be Chychrun’s uncle. If the Hawks wanted to extend Chychrun, the family connection could help their pitch.

Fly in the ointment: Uncle or not, Chychrun has made the playoffs once in his eight seasons to date. Whether he’s a one-year rental or signing an extension, are we sure he’d want to play for a third consecutive rebuilding team? He does have a 10-team no trade clause. Also: when two teams outside the playoff picture are working on a deal, the fit can be awkward. Ottawa wants to contend in the present at this point, and the Hawks don’t have many if any prime-year veteran assets to dangle.

Dallas Stars

Why he makes sense: The Stars know they’re incredibly close. Jim Nill, the league’s reigning GM of the Year, has reached the “finishing touch” juncture. Ryan Suter is a strong buyout candidate, and his departure would make room on the left side of Dallas’ defense. The Stars actually don’t have any righties signed for next season yet, and Chychrun is capable of playing the right side as well, just like stud Miro Heiskanen. The Stars also have lots of assets that could attract Ottawa. Given the emergence of Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven, might AHL scoring champion Mavrik Bourque be safe to sacrifice?

Fly in the ointment: In addition to needing to prioritize true righties on defense, the Stars are saying goodbye to veteran right winger Joe Pavelski, who is poised to retire. Matt Duchene and Sam Steel are also UFAs. Dallas’ forward depth isn’t quite as formidable as it has been, so perhaps they don’t have as much of a trade surplus there as it seems.

Detroit Red Wings

Why he makes sense: Chychrun’s hometown connections to Florida and Ottawa have received lots of attention over the years. But he also played his teenage hockey with the Little Caesars program in Michigan and spent his major junior days with the nearby Sarnia Sting. The Wings, having missed the playoffs by a hair this past season, are willing to get aggressive to accelerate their push. Would GM Steve Yzerman be desperate enough to offer prospect Simon Edvinsson if a Chychrun extension were baked into a trade? Another intriguing mid-range piece to offer could be hulking two-way center Michael Rasmussen. The idea of two teams in direct competition trading with each other would seem strange…had these two teams not collaborated on a blockbuster trade for Alex DeBrincat a year ago, albeit Pierre Dorion was still Ottawa’s GM at the time.

Fly in the ointment: The Wings broke through as an above-average offensive club last season. Their play driving and defense need work. Chychrun is an impactful offensive defenseman but his play in his own end can be spotty at times. He’s strong along the boards and with his stick but also prone to turnovers and getting caught on pinches. Detroit might be better off pursuing more of smothering shutdown type such as UFA Chris Tanev.

Florida Panthers

Why he makes sense: Setting aside the Panthers’ current circumstances for a moment: Chychrun has been linked to South Florida for years now. It’s where he was born and raised. It’s thus highly doubtful the Panthers would be on his veto list, especially when they’re such a successful franchise. They have multiple left-shot blueliners set to become UFAs, most notably Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov, and if coveted right-shot UFA Brandon Montour signs elsewhere, the Panthers will need a high-end offensive threat for their D-corps.

Fly in the ointment: The Panthers have just seven forwards under contract for next season. They’ll have to break the bank to keep 57-goal scorer Sam Reinhart; he and Montour alone would account for three quarters of their projected $20 million in cap space, and promising third-line center Anton Lundell is an RFA to boot. Chychrun would thus only fit as part of a money-in, money out type of trade. Whom would Florida offer up in that scenario? Might they have to sacrifice someone like fellow 2025 UFA Sam Bennett? And would that be worth it?

Los Angeles Kings

Why he makes sense: Rob Blake is going to run out of rope as GM sooner or later despite his legendary status with the franchise. Zero playoff series wins in seven years isn’t going to cut it. Aside from Drew Doughty, no King contributed big-time offense from the point this past season. Brandt Clarke is expected to in the long term, but he’s only 21 and thus not guaranteed to break out in 2024-25. The Kings are solid on the right side whether they re-sign Matt Roy or not, with Clarke and Jordan Spence to rely on long-term, and adding the versatile Chychrun to a left side that includes Mikey Anderson and Vladislav Gavrikov would make this team’s D-corps formidable. We also know the Kings have expressed interest in Chychrun before, having come close to acquiring him in winter 2023.

Fly in the ointment: On top of sorting out RFA Quinton Byfield’s all-important contract, the Kings are as likely as any team in the league to make a play for a big-ticket netminder. They went the cheap route last summer with Cam Talbot, and while he had a good year overall, he wasn’t the consistent stud they needed come playoff time. The Kings may thus be more likely to devote cap and assets to their pursuit of puck-stopping help. They also finished with a league-average offense and might want to look for a scoring forward before a scoring defenseman, especially with Viktor Arvidsson expected to go to market.

New Jersey Devils

Why he makes sense: It may feel strange to imagine the Devils as an all-in team, but they truly were cursed by injuries and goaltending last season. The powerhouse of 2022-23 is much closer to their true identity, and they might want insure their playoff push with better defensive depth next season. Would they be willing to put promising young forward Dawson Mercer in play?

Fly in the ointment: Similar to the Kings, the Devils are committed to their pursuit of a goaltending upgrade above all else. General manager Tom Fitzgerald has been open about the team’s “big-game hunting.” Also, a healthy Devils D-corps includes Luke Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler on the left and Dougie Hamilton, John Marino and Simon Nemec on the right. Are we sure this team needs Chychrun too?

Winnipeg Jets

Why he makes sense: It’s no secret the Jets need to improve their defense corps, especially with Dylan DeMelo and Brendan Dillon’s contracts up. Chychrun would be a nice fit for a team that needs help on both sides of its blueline. His big shot would also be a welcome addition to a team that finished with the NHL’s 22^nd-best power play this past season. They have a ready-made asset to offer, too, in scoring forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who enters the final season of his deal and wants out of Winnipeg. Who says no to that one-for-one?

Fly in the ointment: Well, what if Chychrun says no? Remember, the Jets are mainstays on no-trade lists across the league and could appear on Chychrun’s. Even if he’d be amenable to a rental, he’d be a band-aid solution as someone unlikely to sign long-term.

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