Like Chychrun, Ehlers is entering the final year of his contract and will reportedly be shopped by the Jets in the lead up to next month's NHL Draft.

When Ottawa Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun was asked last month about being in Ottawa beyond the final year of his contract next season, he told the media he hadn't really thought about it.

That immediately made everyone else start thinking about it.

Chychrun still has one year left on his contract, and while there might still be a few plot twists, his story bears a striking resemblance to Alex DeBrincat's last summer. Will it have the same ending, with the player being traded? Time will tell. But that's how the wind is blowing at the moment.

As he did with DeBrincat, former Senators GM Pierre Dorion paid top dollar for Chychrun. He gave up a first, second and third rounder for DeBrincat, and surrendered a first-rounder and two second-rounders for Chychrun. What could the Sens get for Chychrun now with the remaining term on his contract cut in half?

Murat Ates covers the Winnipeg Jets and had some trade speculation Wednesday in The Athletic regarding forward Nikolaj Ehlers. Ates believes Ehlers will "likely be shopped in the lead up to the draft," and given the Jets' need for help on defence, he suggested a deal with Ottawa for Chychrun might be one possible fit.

So with a nod and a tip of the cap to Ates's idea – and that's all it is at this stage – let's kick that notion around for a moment.

Like Chychrun, Ehlers has one year left on his contract. Both players silenced recent injury concerns by playing in all 82 games this season. 

Ehlers is a fast, highly competitive, skilled forward who has given the Senators fits over the years. In 21 career games against the Sens, Ehlers has 23 points and is a plus-11. But at 28, he's two years older than Chychrun with a cap hit of $6 million, compared to Chychrun at $4.6 million. Salary-wise, Chychrun will make a little more in the final year of his deal at $7 million, compared to Ehlers at $6.75 million.

Ehlers was a phenomenal junior player with Halifax, eclipsing 100 points in each of his two seasons there. The Jets drafted him ninth overall in 2014. He's averaged 0.84 points per game in the last five seasons, and his five-on-five production is fantastic. 

The knock on Ehlers is a need for more production in the playoffs, where he's only had 14 points in 37 career games. There's also the little matter of his price tag next year. And it's also possible the Sens are on Ehlers' 10-team no-trade list. 

With Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot locked up, the Senators can get away with Chychrun's exit, especially if he's lost interest in being here. It's time for more physicality on the blue line and Tyler Kleven needs a long look at that third-line left-shot D role.

While none of this fills the Sens' glaring need for a top-four right-shot D (or two), Ehlers would help a lot up front. Vladimir Tarasenko helped replace Alex DeBrincat's offence, but who's replacing Tarasenko? Additionally, Claude Giroux's age and interest in re-signing may soon be factors, and Josh Norris's bad shoulder could blow up again at anytime.

A lot of stars would have to align, but Chychrun for Ehlers could be a worthwhile conversation.