Of the players potentially available at next month's NHL trade deadline, Ottawa defenseman Jakob Chychrun might do the most to change a team's future fortunes.
The Senators made a big move when they acquired Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes in the middle of last season, believing they were getting a cornerstone defenseman to add to what was at the time seen as a promising, up-and-coming young core.
Hopes were high entering this season for Ottawa, but the Senators have fallen totally flat, resulting in the firing of head coach D.J. Smith and an embarrassing last-place record in the Atlantic Division.
The Senators do still have promising young talent, so they may be inclined to hang on to Chychrun and give it another go next year, but they have to at least entertain the notion of moving him.
Without him, they still have a decent group of young defensemen, and if the team is bad again next season, his return as a pure rental would be less, and if they keep him again next year, he could walk for nothing in free agency.
Now may be the time to make the move and command a king's ransom, potentially getting another first-round pick and a younger roster player in return. In December, Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch reported that the Senators were willing to listen.
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NHL Trade Deadline: Jakob Chychrun
Contract Situation: $4.6 million cap hit through 2025
Possible Destinations: Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Seattle, Edmonton, Florida
For his part, Chychrun has played fairly well despite Ottawa's miserable season. The 25-year-old has 29 points in 50 games from the blue line.
He flashed higher-end offensive upside during his tenure with the Coyotes, but Ottawa can't be disappointed with what they've gotten.
With Chychrun on the ice, the Senators are controlling just slightly over 50% of the shots on goal at 5-on-5, and he's in the middle of the pack on the team in expected goals against per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Again, this is all in the context of Ottawa being a total disaster this season.
Any team could stand to add a two-way left-handed defenseman of Chyrchrun's caliber to their team, and he doubles as a rental for this year and next year, meaning the pool of interested teams would likely extend beyond current contenders.
Teams like Detroit, Seattle, and Pittsburgh that are out of things this year could look to acquire him primarily as an addition for next season, while Edmonton, his native Florida, New York, and Los Angeles could take a good, long look at bringing him in for Stanley Cup pushes this year and next.
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