Jakob Chychrun is on a nine-game timer to impress the Arizona Coyotes staff. He’s proving he won’t be content with another season in Sarnia.
Jakob Chychrun isn’t content with only nine games in an Arizona Coyotes uniform.
He wants a full season.
His play is forcing Dave Tippett and John Chayka to take notice.
This is a kid who was once the 2nd ranked prospect behind Auston Matthews in the 2016 NHL Draft.
John Chayka ended up drafting him 16th overall.
Fifteen teams passed on Chychrun. That means roughly half of the NHL is providing fuel to Chychrun’s fire.
Defenders Olli Juolevi, Mikhail Sergachev, Jake Bean, and Charlie McAvoy were selected ahead of him. Only Sergachev is playing in the NHL with Chychrun this October.
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Last night, after scoring his first NHL goal, Chychrun doubled down on his plans.
“I’ve been saying for a while I think I can play in this league,” Chychrun said. “I think I’m just trying to do my best to prove them that.”
There’s not a whole lot standing in the kid’s way.
His direct competition is Kevin Connauton, a serviceable bottom-six defenseman and someone who would slot in as an excellent 7th defender. Another minor obstacle is journeyman Jamie McBain, who plays the opposite side but is eating up a roster spot.
McBain has not impressed anyone in Arizona.
Odds are he’ll end up in Tucson when Michael Stone returns.
Both seem easily surmountable, at least if you discount the fact that Chychrun has already been scratched once to insert Kevin Connauton into the lineup.
The result of that swap was less than stellar.
It was head scratching at the time, but after Chychrun’s efforts last night it’s hard to imagine a justification for sitting him again for Connauton.
Connauton isn’t a total slouch.
He’s a mobile defenseman that fits what John Chayka and Dave Tippett are likely seeking. Unfortunately, he’s 26-years-old and on his third NHL team in six seasons.
Whatever his ceiling is, he’s likely reached it.
For Chychrun, the sky appears to be the limit.
He possesses both speed and skill. He has NHL size already and has delivered six hits already this season, so he’s capable of separating his man from the puck.
More than anything, he appears to have the same chip on his shoulder that propelled Tobias Rieder and Jordan Martinook to long term spots on the Arizona Coyotes roster.
He wants it and plays like a desperate man.
After this start, the Coyotes could stand for a little bit of that desperation to spread to their veterans.
Jakob Chychrun will have his gaffes.
Several nights this season he will end up looking like the 18-year-old rookie he is.
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So far, the positives outweigh the negatives by a good margin.
His talent and his work ethic give us no reason to suspect that trend won’t continue.