Chychrun Out Multiple Weeks With Lower-Body Injury
By Alex Neier
Ottawa Senators head coach DJ Smith told the media Saturday that defenseman Jakob Chychrun will be out for multiple weeks with a lower-body injury.
OTT head coach DJ Smith said this morning that Jakob Chychrun out a couple of weeks with a lower-body injury; Ridly Greig out for rest of season with a sternum injury.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 25, 2023
The 24-year-old defenseman was acquired by Ottawa on March 1st for three picks. Ottawa made the move at the time under the assumption that making the playoffs was still a possibility.
However, the play after the acquisition of Chychrun was the same for the Sens as it had been all season. The team looked like it was ready to go on a run, and then they fell right back to where they were.
What does this mean for the Senators?
It was going to take a substantial run from Ottawa to put themselves in the conversation for the playoffs, even with the addition of Chychrun.
The Senators have the young defenseman under contract for two more seasons at 4.6M AAV, so they have plenty of time to work out a contract extension with him if they decide to go that route.
The real win for the Senators was being in a position to buy at the deadline and push for the playoffs, something they haven’t been able to do since 2016-2017.
Since Chychrun is under contract with the Sens for another two years, losing him for most likely the year doesn’t hurt. It could potentially open the door for other players on Ottawa’s blue line to get a shot and see what they have.
What does this mean for Chychrun himself?
Chychrun finally has found himself on a team with proven players, unlike in Arizona. Ottawa’s core of young players such as Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, and others, mixed with veterans like Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux should only benefit the 24-year-old with a full season on the team.
Chychrun played in 12 games for Ottawa after the deadline and recorded two goals, three assists, and five points. His full-season production is almost bound to go up next year. He has the potential to be a legitimate elite defenseman with the right pairing.
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How will Chychrun’s play style change next season?
Now that Chychrun is part of a competent pairing on the blue line, he isn’t going to be looked at as “the guy” on Ottawa’s defense. Thomas Chabot could be looked at as a 1A and Chychrun as a 1B, perhaps allowing Chychrun to play a more free and open-ended game.