March 12, 2024 | 11:17am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CHYCHRUN EXPECTS TRADE TALK TO CONTINUE

Jakob Chychrun, defenceman

The trade deadline has come and gone, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the rumours and speculation will go away.

Maybe the chatter will slow down the next six weeks until the regular-season wraps up, but Ottawa Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun still expects talk to remain over the summer.

Chychrun, who turns 26 on March 31, has one more year left on his contract after this season. He was the subject of trade talk since January, when TFP’s David Pagnotta reported his name was once again swirling around. Teams had contacted the Senators about Chychrun and management was listening.

In an interview with The Athletic’s Ian Mendes, Chychrun admitted that he still expects to hear the trade gossip.

“The trade deadline is over, but people are already talking about the summer. It’s not like the chatter is going anywhere,” Chychrun said. “It’s the reality of the situation with my contract with having one year left. We’ll see what happens with my situation moving forward.”

According to all the hearsay, the Senators are looking to make hockey moves and swap out talent-for-talent as they try to reshape their roster for next season. Moving Chychrun could produce a right-shot defenceman within the team’s top-four, or help them acquire more offence up front.

Senators GM Steve Staios told The Athletic the rumours “probably weighing him down a little bit,” but Chychrun is trying his best to block out as much outside noise as he can.

“I really don’t know what else I can do. I can only focus on the things I can control. And that’s easier said than done sometimes,” Chychrun said. “That’s something as a professional that I’m going to deal with and try to not let it affect me.”

There is the belief trade talks will pick up again around the NHL Draft in late-June in Las Vegas, upon which a move could be completed at that point.

In 62 games with the Senators so far this season, Chychrun has registered nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points.