NHL Rumors: Rangers a perfect landing spot for Chychrun, and do the Oilers already have a deal with Kane?
Anthony Scultore
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Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is one of the hottest names on the NHL’s trade market.
Chychrun, 23, has just 7 points in 26 games but the Yotes’ this season and is dealing with an injury. Last year was a breakout for him with 41 points in 56 games. The left-handed rearguard has three years left on a cap friendly deal of $4.6 million.
Jakob Chychrun landing spots
“A couple of offers have given the Coyotes cause for pause,” Jeff Marek said on Sportsnet. “Here’s what they are looking for in exchange. It’s not unlike the old Brent Burns deal, which was Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, and a first round pick. So what the Coyotes are looking for is a young player, a high-end prospect, plus a first round pick.”
Marek also added the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks have the prospects and desire to make that deal. All make a lot of sense, but if up to ten teams have supposedly reached out it is hard to imagine the Rangers not in the mix.
GM Chris Drury has a contender on his hands but cap constraints will make it difficult to keep key free agents and RFAs. They are overloaded with young players and prospects and would love someone like Chychrun to pair with Jacob Trouba.
The package would be significant, but the Rangers could do it.
Would a deal that centered around young K’Andre Miller, whom Chychrun would replace, along with Filip Chytil, and a first round pick get it done? Could Arizona consider Zac Jones or even Nils Lundkvist over Miller.
Miller has the size, speed, and talent to be a top-four defenseman. But for where the Rangers are right now, Chychrun paired with Trouba would be a 1A-1B pairing to Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren.
Plus, from a cap standpoint it makes even more sense over the next few seasons once Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad’s extensions kick in. There’s significant value in Chychrun’s cost controlled salary.
Miller and Alexis Lafreniere’s ELC’s will expire in 2023.
Do the Oilers have a deal in place with Kane
TSN’S Shawn Simpson is reporting that the Oilers may already have signed Evander Kane to a $1.5 million deal for one year.
“[The Oilers] won’t register the contract now, and then find out he’s suspended the rest of the year. That would be money and cap space that is totally wasted,” Simpson added. “Curious how long the league investigation will take?”
The NHL is currently investigating Kane for a COVID protocol violation and may decide to suspend him.
Kane, 30, received a 21-game NHL suspension in October for submitting a fake vaccination card. He appeared in five games with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda this season and tallied two goals and six assists before being placed in the protocol on Dec. 22.
Kane led the Sharks in goals (22) and assists (27) while appearing in all 56 games last season.
He has 264 goals and 242 assists in 769 career games for the Atlanta Thrashers (2009-11), Winnipeg Jets (2011-15), Buffalo Sabres (2015-18) and Sharks.
