|
Why the Ottawa Senators should aggressively pursue Chychrun |
|
|
|
|
|
When it comes to sports, the difference between managerial aggressiveness and foolhardy behavior is a thin line.
The Ottawa Senators are undoubtedly thinking about that as they ponder whether to pursue a trade for defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
On one hand, acquiring Chychrun makes sense. Their moves this offseason -- particularly acquiring Claude Giroux, Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot -- are designed to immediately make the team more competitive. GM Pierre Dorion did a masterful job improving this team.
Acquiring Chychrun would fit nicely into the objective of competing for a playoff space. He is a left-shot defenseman who can play both the right and left sides on defense.
If they make the deal, the Senators' would have a Top 4 that includes Chychrun, impressive Thomas Chabot, prize young defenseman Jake Sanderson and underrated 21-minute D man Artem Zub.
The lure of Chychrun is that he's 24, big, strong and he's signed for this season and two others at a reasonable $4.6 million AAV. Two seasons ago, he netted 18 goals.
The word around the league is that he would welcome a trade to Ottawa. His family has a home in the area. He likes the direction the Senators are headed.
It's easy to see why this deal makes sense.
On the other hand, the negatives of making this trade are not insignificant. The Arizona Coyotes want the moon and stars, plu a piece of the sun, for Chychrun.
Shawn Simpson of TSN Radio said on Twitter that a Coyotes executive told him Arizona views the Seth Jones deal as a comparable.
The Blue Jackets moved Seth Jones, a first-round pick and a sixth round pick, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Adam Boqvist and three draft picks.
The Blue Jackets received a first-round pick (No. 12) and a second-round selection (No. 44) in the 2021 NHL Draft, and another first-round pick (in the 2022 or 2023). The Blackhawks received a first-round pick (No. 32, originally belonging to the Tampa Bay Lightning) and a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.
What it all means is the Coyotes still want three or four assets and two of those assets have to be first-round picks. Multiple sources have told me that the Coyotes are telling league GMs that they will not lower their demands.
The Coyotes say there's no urgency to deal Chychrun. They are content to keep him on the roster unless they get what they want.
The other reason to pause on this deal is that the Senators, despite their recent deals, are still in the midst of a rebuild. They aren't expected to make the playoffs this season, although it seems as if there's a shot if everything went right and Talbot was outstanding.
How much better would Chychrun make the Senators? Would he put them over the top? Probably not. Those are questions that the Senators have to ask themselves.
Also, not everyone is sold on Chychrun's up-side. You don't have to look hard to find a scout, or team executive, who believes what you see is what you get from Chychrun.
Finally, rebuilding teams don't usually give away a piece of their future. Two first-round picks is a heavy price and the Senators have prospects, especially Ridly Greig, they don't want to give up.
But even with the negatives, this feels like a path the Senators should fully explore. Maybe it's time to leave the rebuilding mode and fully embrace the now.
That doesn't mean giving the Coyotes exactly what they want. But if the Senators commit to two first-round picks, they may be able to negotiate their way out of too much hurt for the other two assets.
Giving up two first rounders for Chychrun is not unreasonable. You are getting a first rounder back. Chychrun was drafted in the first round. Plus, he has played like a first rounder. You can't be sure what you are going to get with those two future first rounders. But we know the Arizona Coyotes want first round picks.
You can lottery protect the 2023 first rounder. Once you commit to the two draft picks, the negotiations could involve more give-and-take for the other assets.
And if the Coyotes remain too rigid, the Senators can walk away and look elsewhere for a defenseman. The idea is to be aggressive, not reckless.
But there is another good reason to make a Chychrun deal.
The Senators are now an intriguing team. One more bold move would confirm to Ottawa fans that this is now a different Senators' organization. This is a team willing to jump off the porch and run with the big dogs.
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
Join the Discussion:
»