Chychrun's Future With Senators Unclear

Jakob Chychrun has one year left on his contract with the Ottawa Senators after they acquired him from the Arizona Coyotes on March 1, 2023. He was expected to be one of the big pieces who would help turn the organization around, but that hasn't been the case.

Chychrun has been playing on the third pairing and is a horrible -30 when the next closest defenseman on the team to him is Travis Hamonic at -10. There were rumblings that he could be dealt at the 2024 trade deadline, but nothing happened. The summer is a different conversation though.

After another disappointing season by the Senators and things needing to change, Chychun being moved seems like a more obvious trade to make with one year left at a good price. He needs a different role than the one he has in Ottawa to succeed like he did in Arizona.

Chychrun was asked if Ottawa is the place he would like to play for the next couple of years, referring to if he'd sign a contract extension with the Senators, to which he replied:

"It's a tough question, I don't know. I honestly have not thought about that. I know I have 1 more year left (on my contract). There haven't been talks of an extension or anything so I haven't got my head wrapped around that idea. It's tough to sit here and act like I have. Take it day by day and see if and when we have those talks and go from there."

This definitely looks like both sides aren't all-in for a contract extension and a move may happen in the offseason. The Senators need some reworking to take a step forward. This group just hasn't done the trick.

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