Jakob Chychrun and Luke Schenn
What a difference a few months can make.
After watching his stock plummet at the draft in June, 18 year-old Jakob Chychrun is making other teams regret passing on him.
His skill and speed have been on display throughout the preseason, and he has played consistently in every situation.
In his way for the final left defensive spot are Klas Dahlbeck and Kevin Connauton, who are ahead of the youngster in terms of NHL experience. However, Chychrun’s style of play and the maturity of his game make him a real dark horse to win the spot.
Jakob may also benefit from the fact that Connauton is currently injured.
Luke Schenn was a savvy addition by John Chayka.
A former 5th overall pick by the Maple Leafs, Schenn never lived up to the high expectations placed upon him. However, Arizona is the perfect place for him to regain some confidence in his game without outside pressure.
While not a huge offensive threat, he could flourish in a third-pairing shut down role, especially if he plays with a speedy puck-mover like Chychrun.
Additionally, he brings some much-needed physicality to the team; only one player (Brooks Orpik) has more hits than Luke Schenn since he broke into the league.