Arizona Coyotes Mock Trade With Toronto Maple Leafs

Jakob Chychrun has been rumored to be traded since… forever, so can this Arizona Coyotes mock trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs really happen? Well, according to John Leung of The Morning Skate, it could. His proposed mock trade is intended not to favor any one team, but taking a closer look at it does reveal otherwise.

Jakob Chychrun Availability

It’s no secret that multiple teams have shown interest in Chychrun but have held back making a deal until he is healthy. Well, that wait is over as the talented 24-year-old blueliner returned to action against the Nashville Predators on November 21st. He played 23:10 to show he’s back and ready to go. Then, in his next game against the Carolina Hurricanes he tallied his first point on an assist. Chychrun did even better against the Detroit Red Wings collecting a goal and an assist. The goal tied the game at 3-3 and came with just 26 seconds remaining in regulation. It is that kind of clutch play that teams are looking for in a prospective trade.

Chychrun had yet to play a game this season while recovering from wrist surgery. The last game the defenseman played was on March 12th. He missed the last 15 games of the 2021-22 season, out with injuries.

Obviously, all interested teams want to see Chychrun in action to ensure he is ready to go. There hasn’t been a lack of teams who would like to add Chychrun to their rosters. The Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and of course.. the Toronto Maple Leafs have all shown interest. Now Chychrun has no trade clauses so he may prefer playing with a particular team, but it’s not his choice.

Apparently Jakob Chychrun is very interested in playing for the Leafs. The biggest reason, to play with Auston Matthews.

— LD (@leafsdailynews1) November 22, 2022

Still, it’s intriguing to think about Chychrun feeding the puck to a breaking Auston Matthews, isn’t it? Playing for Toronto gives Chychrun a good opportunity to be in the playoffs and win a Cup. He knows it and with the situation of Kyle Dubas not having a contract for next season, one must consider the pressure he is under to succeed.

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Arizona Coyotes Mock Trade Analysis

Arizona Receives: Rasmus Sandin, Pierre Engvall, Wayne Simmonds, 2023 3rd Round Pick, 2024 2nd Round Pick

Toronto Receives: Jakob Chychrun (50 percent retained), Barret Hayton, 2023 4th Round Pick

Now, keeping an open mind, this trade most definitely favors the Maple Leafs. GM Bill Armstrong has never mentioned (nor will he) that he is willing to retain ANY of Chuchrun’s salary. The reason being… he doesn’t NEED to trade Chychrun. The team and the player have agreed to try to trade him, but there is no set deadline to get it done. This plays right into the hands of Armstrong and the Yotes as other teams NEED to add Chychrun more than the Arizona club being in a position where it must get done.

Some say with Chychrun’s trade request being public that is ruins the locker room atmosphere and there may be some validity to that claim. We don’t know, we’re not in the room.

The other factor on why this trade won’t work for the Coyotes is giving up Barrett Hayton (there are two “T’s” in Barrett’s name, John). While he has struggled with just three assists in 19 games, the team is being patient with his development. Don’t forget, he is just 22 years old.

While including Rasmus Sandin in the mock trade is going in the correct direction, Pierre Engvall and Wayne Simmonds are certainly not. Engvall has only two goals and three assists in 21 games. Adding Simmonds would just help the Leafs move him. He is a big body, but has only played in five games and has been waived twice.

The biggest reason this trade doesn’t meet the Coyotes’ interests is the lack of first-round picks that Armstrong has been adamant about requiring in any deal.

The Armstrong Return Demands

Well-respected TSN hockey insider, Pierre LeBrun mentioned this about Armstrong’s trade return demands.

INSIDER TRADING: #TSNHockey Insiders discuss…

– Not much wiggle room for Leafs, decimated D
– Canadian coaches in crosshairs
– Why #Yotes are sticking to Chychrun price
– GM Adams stays calm for now
– NHL investigation into 2018 sexual assault

WATCH 🌍: https://t.co/A5d2B4og5m pic.twitter.com/hyOvoL09vE

— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) November 22, 2022

If the Maple Leafs want Chychrun, (and it seems they do) they will need to make a better offer than what this Arizona Coyotes mock trade displays. Armstrong knows that he has an asset that a list of teams are interested in, and he hasn’t been known to waver on that. The most logical team to finally get Chychrun seems to be the Ottawa Senators at this point. They are floundering with a 7-12-1 gaining just 15 points. Chychrun while not a one-man savior can certainly help the Senators out of their doldrums.

There could always be a dark horse team who comes in and swoops Chychrun away. It may happen sooner (FINALLY) than later considering how the defenseman has been playing since returning from injuries. He has one goal and two assists in three games while averaging 23:13 of ice time. His presence on the power play is noticeable since his return. He is averaging six shots per game thus far. These stats should help teams pursuing him evaluate his readiness enough to swing a trade.

It may take a few more games (or weeks) to get a deal done but be assured Jakob Chychrun will be wearing another jersey before Christmas.