After he sat out the Arizona Coyotes’ game Saturday due to what his team described as “trade-related reasons,” defenseman Jakob Chychrun will continue to be a healthy scratch this week as Arizona negotiates a deal.
“(Chychrun) will remain out of the lineup until something happens,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny told local reporters Monday before the Coyotes’ game at the Nashville Predators.
Chychrun, 24, is seen as one of the most valuable candidates to be traded ahead of the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline. The Coyotes (17-28-8, 42 points) are well outside the playoff race and Chychrun has a modified no-trade clause set to kick in next season.
Multiple media reports indicated that the Los Angeles Kings have been engaged in trade discussions with the Coyotes.
A first-round draft pick in 2016, Chychrun requested a trade last season. He underwent wrist surgery over the offseason and returned to game action in late November.
In 36 games this season, Chychrun has 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists). In 373 career games across seven NHL seasons spent with Arizona, Chychrun has tallied 170 points (60 goals, 110 assists). He finished 10th in voting for the Norris Trophy for the league’s best defenseman in 2020-21, when he posted career highs of 18 goals and 23 assists.
–Field Level Media