Defenseman Jakob Chychrun’s time with the Arizona Coyotes seems to be over. The Coyotes’ head coach Andre Tourigny confirmed on Monday that the franchise is working on trading Chychrun and won’t play him anymore.
Tourigny praised Chychrun for his attitude, saying that the 24-year-old player remained “a real pro” despite being put in an unusual situation.
“He behaved like he should, like a real pro, so credit to him, and I think now it’s time for the organization to take care of business and to make sure we’re on the safe side of everything,” said Tourigny. “So he will remain out of the lineup until something happens for us.”
Chychrun made it clear to the Coyotes that he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild and would prefer to play for a franchise that has playoff aspirations. Arizona team was understanding towards the player’s frustrations but failed to find a trade partner for him so far.
The biggest reason why Chychrun remains on Coyotes’ roster is the high asking price. The front office reportedly wants a package that includes at least two first-rounders and additional assets. So far, neither team was willing to meet that price.
It also doesn’t help that Chychrun previously dealt with ankle and wrist injuries and had two surgeries before the start of the 2022-23 campaign. He played 36 games this season, contributing with seven goals and 21 assists.
Chychrun, who was Coyotes’ No. 16 selection in 2016, accumulated 170 points (60 goals and 110 assists) so far in his NHL career. He is known for his strong presence on the ice and impressive skating skills for a player of his size (6-foot-2, 210 pounds).
