The Senators made a swing for the fences Wednesday evening making a trade for defenceman Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2023 conditional first-round pick, a 2024 conditional second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. A trade that many have thought to be in the works all season as Pierre Dorion had made clear that if the situation was right he was in search of a top-four defenceman to add to their blue line core.
Chychrun will join the Senators defensive core that features Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub, Jake Sanderson, Travis Hamonic, Erik Brannstrom and Nick Holden. Where exactly he will slot in as the fourth left-handed defenceman along with Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson and Erik Brannstrom is up to head coach D.J. Smith.
A first round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Chychrun has built a reputation as one of the best young defencemen in the NHL. In 36 games this season, Chychrun has scored seven goals to go with 21 assists for 28 points on the year. The seventh-year pro has 60 goals and 110 assists in his 373 career games.
"A defenceman we've coveted, Jakob is big and plays imposing,said GM Pierre Dorion. "He possesses a quality skill set; he defends hard and is highly skilled. He uses his heavy shot with accuracy and is effective at creating offence as a threat at the offensive blue line."
The conditions of the NHL Draft picks the Senators sent to Arizona are listed below:
The 2023 first-round pick is top-5 protected. If met, the pick becomes a 2024 first-round pick unprotected.
If the Senators reach the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, the 2024 second-round pick becomes a 2024 first-round pick, top-10 protected. If that condition is met it would become a 2025 first-round pick unprotected.
