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    Lyle Richardson
    Lyle Richardson
    Jan 25, 2024, 15:10

    Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun said he's loving it in Ottawa, but some media speculation suggests he could be a trade option if the team wants to adjust.

    Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun said he's loving it in Ottawa, but some media speculation suggests he could be a trade option if the team wants to adjust.

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    Throughout last season, Jakob Chychrun was a fixture in the NHL rumor mill. The chatter was ceaseless until the Arizona Coyotes traded him last March to the Ottawa Senators.

    With the March 8 trade deadline just over six weeks away, the 25-year-old defenseman is once again the subject of media speculation. Chychrun is signed through next season with an average annual value of $4.6 million.

    During Thursday's mid-season press conference with Senators GM Steve Staios, he told reporters he's disappointed that Chychrun's been mentioned in rumors and speculation. THN's Ottawa Senators site has more.

    On Jan. 18, TSN's Darren Dreger said trading Chychrun would be a positional move. He pointed out that they have left-shot defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson already under long-term contracts.

    Dreger indicated that the Senators like Chychrun, but there's some work to be done regarding a contract extension. He also said it would take a substantial offer that is unlikely to come by the trade deadline, speculating the Sens could wait until the off-season to move him.

    In a recent interview with The Athletic's Ian Mendes, Chychrun acknowledged the possibility that he could be on the move again. He knows management could shake things up given the club's position in the standings, their depth in left-shot blueliners and his contract.

    However, Chychrun bristled at the notion that he was trying to orchestrate his way out of Ottawa. 

    “I'm loving every moment here,” he told Mendes, citing his family's ties to the region and dismissing such talk as “ridiculous.”

    Chychrun sounded like he wants to stay in Ottawa, but he could be one of their best trade chips leading up to deadline day. 

    Story updated at 11:35 a.m. ET

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