Arizona Coyotes D Jakob Chychrun wants to be traded to contender

SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is looking to get moved to a contender.

At Coyotes Media Day Wednesday, the defenseman said he is hoping that the team will be able to accommodate him via trade and that the communication has been constant as the Coyotes prepare for another rebuilding season in the desert.

Chychrun, 24, said he had a lot of discussions with his family before coming to the decision.

“We ultimately decided it would be right to move on to a better situation,” Chychrun said.

He also mentioned discussions he had with the team and how they revolved around his competitiveness.

“We talked about at the end of last season, my desire to win in this league,” Chychrun said.

“If I wanted to be in a different situation and move on that they were going to be willing to do that and make that happen for me.”

As one of the most productive veterans on the team, Chychrun has seen years of mediocrity in the desert and is at the stage where he wants to chase a Stanley Cup.

He finished second on the team in goals in 2020-21 and racked up 20 points in each of the last four seasons despite playing in more than 60 games in only one of them.

“Careers are so short, time flies by. It’s my seventh year here in Arizona, seventh in the NHL,” Chychrun said.

“I’ve not had a really good shot at not only the playoffs but the Stanley Cup.”

Chychrun said he believes the team is on board with trying to make a move.

“I think its kind of a mutual position right now,” Chychrun said.

The 2016 first-rounder has been in the middle of trade discussions for some time now, but the Coyotes have had a high demand for the quality of play that Chychrun can provide to any organization.

Chychrun will miss the opening of training camp with an ankle injury. It is unclear if the injury is expected to heal by the start of the regular season.

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