NHL Rumors: Coyotes listening on Jakob Chychrun, interest in Anton Khudobin, and COVID next steps
Anthony Scultore
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The Arizona Coyotes fire sale apparently knows no bounds.
This offseason has seen them dump plenty of veterans with high salaries including longtime Yotes’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson. We know Phil Kessel will be the next shoe to drop as teams likely wait to get closer to the deadline to fit him in under the cap.
Yet there’s now talk of trading a younger star emerging.
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Coyotes open to trading Chychrun
Arizona GM Bill Armstrong refused to comment when asked, but it now sounds like the Coyotes are gauging the market on Jakob Chychrun. I’ve heard the ask is massive, but that doesn’t mean opponents are running away. He’s signed for three more years at a very reasonable $4.6 million AAV and is a terrific player. This is one to watch.
Elliotte Friedman
Chychrun, 23, has just 7 points in 26 games for Arizona. Although you’d be had pressed to hold those numbers against him this season. In 2020-21, he had a breakout performance with 41 points in 56 games.
There were rumors that the Islanders tried to pluck him in the offseason. If the Yotes are listening, does that make them the frontrunners to land him? We will see.
The stud left-defenseman has three more seasons left on his contract with an AAV of $4.6M.
Khudobin has interest
Anton Khudobin, 35, has struggled this season with a 3-3-1 record to go with a below average SV% of .873 and GAA of 3.73. Dallas has been getting great goaltending from Braden Holtby and Jake Oettinger making Khudobin expendable.
Khudobin, has one year remaining at $3.33M and cleared waivers yesterday.
“According to a source, teams have contacted the Stars about acquiring Khudobin, but would like to see him play more games,” writes Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning news.
Now that he is going to get some playing time, if the Stars are willing to eat 50% of his cap hit, several teams may find him more attractive and bite.
List of possible destinations includes; the Sabres, Rangers, and Oilers.
NHL will enhance COVID protocols
Last night on TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun noted that the NHL and NHLPA do not believe a pause will occur due to the recent spike in COVID cases. However, as meetings with doctors continue to take place enhanced protocols are on the table.
“Well, enhanced protocols I think would be on the table which is more mask wearing around the league and the facilities,” LeBrun said. “How about daily testing? Since the start of the season players had been tested every three days. Could it go to daily testing with advanced measures? So, look for all of those things to potentially come to fruition here over the next few days.”
This morning, Darren Dreger reported that this is well in motion and enhanced protocols is the next step.
