Dreger reports that the Leafs are interested in Jakob Chychrun

The preseason is almost half over and the Leafs have been hit hard by the injury bug.

Guys like John Tavares, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall, Jake Muzzin and Jordie Benn have been sidelined with various grievances that will keep them sidelined for the foreseeable future. And Rasmus Sandin just signed his extension with the Leafs yesterday after Alex Kerfoot and Calle Jarnkrok had to step in at defense in Wednesday’s game against the Canadiens.

Toronto’s depth is already being tested, and while it’s too early to say how the likes of Victor Mete, Filip Kral and Mac Hollowell will play a bigger role in the final four preseason competitions, it would certainly help more to get reinforcements.

Luckily for them, a talented young blueliner is said to be looking to get out of their current club, and he might be even more than what they’re looking for. Darren Dreger reports that trade talks for Jakob Chychrun are intensifying and Toronto is one of the interested teams.

INSIDER TRADING: #TSNHockey Insiders discuss…

– Chychrun trade potential is intensified
– How Sandin’s stalemate ended
– What do you think of Spencer Knight’s signing?
– Latest information on commissioned work by Bruins/Pastrnak

WATCH 🌏: https://t.co/31TR5004Oder pic.twitter.com/cvohuM8CJq

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) 09/29/2022

Chychrun admitted At the start of training camp, he told the Coyotes’ front office that he wanted to be traded so he could play for a competitive team and not endure a rebuild until the 2022 trade deadline. Dreger said that while those desires are still there, the Coyotes are in no hurry to send him elsewhere.

He also said that Arizona appears to have moderated its asking price on chychrun but remains high with a contract or two, a first-round pick and a prospect. Other teams that have expressed interest include the Senators, Oilers, Blues, Kings and Blue Jackets.

The potential return package will be quite substantial, and adjusting his cap hit will create some additional hurdles to overcome, but Chychrun would be a great addition for the Leafs in the immediate and long-term future.

Blessed with incredible size, he enters his prime. He is just two seasons away from earning votes for the Norris Trophy in the shortened 2021 season. That season, he ranked 10th among all NHL defensemen and scored 41 points (18 of which were goals, and 65% of his points came from consistent strength).

Last year, he was limited to 47 games due to an ankle injury he sustained during a game against the Bruins on March 12 that ended his season early. It probably hurts him more because he was averaging 11 points (at an impressive 1.1 points per game) in his last ten games before the aforementioned injury, helping his team to a 6-4 record over that span. Overall, he scored seven goals, 14 assists and 21 points in that span of time.

One blow to Chychrun is that his underlying metrics have been below average throughout his career to date, and in the 2021-22 season at 5v5 those numbers saw a noticeable drop.

In fact, Arizona has only made the playoffs once since entering the league, the only appearance coming in the bubble, and is coming off a season in which they finished the second-worst record in the league. However, Chychrun has not yet had a season where his team has created more scoring chances with him on the ice and has only helped his team to more shots on target twice.

The Coyotes’ lackluster play over the six years is certainly affecting its underlying metrics, but Chychrun hasn’t done itself any favors in changing tack. Perhaps a change of scenery could help get better results, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case once it’s dealt.

Despite his so-so results on the underlying metrics, Chychrun should still be a high priority for the Leafs in an attempt to escape the desert.

He won’t turn 25 until March so should expect a further increase in production and perhaps more Norris Trophy recognition if he stays healthy (although he has yet to show up in preseason because he was recovering from wrist surgery).

Second goal of the season for Jakob Chychrun. #Yotes pic.twitter.com/a97q01fbSun

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) February 27, 2022

His cap hit is also manageable for many teams, with a $4.6 million AAV and two seasons remaining after the upcoming season, which would make him the Leafs’ fourth-highest paid defenseman. Money would almost certainly have to be sent for a potential trade to close given Toronto’s near $3 million cap following Sandin’s extension. That means one of Kerfoot, Muzzin or Justin Holl would have to be one of the key roster pieces going the other way to fit Chychrun in the fold.

One aspect of his contract that will increase pressure on teams like the Leafs to strike a deal is the fact that Chychrun will have a 10-team no-trade clause before the start of the 2023-24 season. As this is the last season that he doesn’t have Trade Protection, a potential trade will be easier to make, so the market to acquire him will almost certainly be competitive.

If Toronto are to snap up the former 16th overall champion, they’ll have to give up some while losing some salary. A potential trade could look something like this:

Coyotes receives: Jake Muzzin, Alex Kerfoot, Nick Robertson, 2023 1

Preserved leaves: Jakob Chychrun

While the reported asking price remains high and its underlying metrics have never been solid, it makes perfect sense why the Leafs are one of several teams interested in acquiring Chychrun’s services. He has remained a prolific blueliner throughout his career, is close to earning Norris Trophy votes and was producing at an impressive rate last year before suffering an injury.

He’s credited with a big role in the top-4, he’ll get plenty of power play replays, and he’ll grow along with the rest of the team as they try to get closer to their aspirations for a deep playoff run. And over time, he could help solidify the core alongside Sandin and Liljegren for years to come.

They will certainly have to give up a lot to bring him to Toronto, but the Leafs should look to acquire Chychrun.

Statistics from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick.

Salary information from PuckPedia.com.

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