Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is arguably the top player rumored to be available before the March 21 NHL trade deadline, and the Boston Bruins still have interest in acquiring him.
TSN's Darren Dreger reported Wednesday morning a positive update on Chychrun's recent injury -- suffered in Boston last week -- and noted that the Los Angeles Kings and Bruins remain in the hunt for the star d-man. His TSN colleague, Pierre LeBrun, provided further info on Boston's interest in Chychrun.
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Chychrun, as we've noted before, is an excellent fit for the Bruins. Here's a quick summary of why he's an ideal target for the B's.
- Legit top-four defenseman
- Gifted offensive player
- Plays 20-plus minutes per game
- Contributes to special teams
- Will be 24 years old on March 31
One of the most appealing aspects of Chychrun as a trade target is his contract. He's signed through the 2024-25 season with a team-friendly salary cap hit of just $4.6 million. So, he'd be a great short- and long-term addition for the Bruins.
A lack of defensive depth and talent has plagued the B's in recent playoff runs, including last year. Rolling out Charlie McAvoy on the top pairing and Chychrun on the second pairing would be quite impressive.
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The cost for Chychrun likely will be massive, and may force the Bruins to part with a first-round pick, a top prospect and other assets. The Coyotes would be foolish to accept anything less for a fantastic young d-man early in his prime and signed at very reasonable money.
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The Bruins don't have a ton of premium trade assets, but if they found a package the Coyotes deem acceptable, then it's worth making the move. Chychrun isn't a rental. He would be here for three-plus seasons, at least. He also addresses a huge roster need -- a top-four defenseman who plays the left side.
The Bruins have other areas to address before the trade deadline. Second-line center and a scoring right winger are among them. But a player like Chychrun could be a game-changer for the Bruins and help them compete with the top contenders in the Eastern Conference such as the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.