Jakob Chychrun left desperate following Senators’ trade deadline

Ottawa Senators star defenseman Jakob Chychrun just wants the chatter to stop - or at least quiet down. After surviving the trade deadline without being moved by the Senators, Chychrun just wants to play hockey, but has already heard new rumours on potential transactions in the summer.

“The trade deadline is over, but people are already talking about the summer. It’s not like the chatter is going anywhere,” Chychrun told The Athletic’s Ian Mendes. “It’s the reality of the situation with my contract with having one year left. We’ll see what happens with my situation moving forward.”

He added with a sense of helplessness: “I really don’t know what else I can do. I can only focus on the things I can control. And that’s easier said than done sometimes,” he said. “That’s something as a professional that I’m going to deal with and try to not let it affect me.”

Just over a year ago, on March 1 2023, Chychrun was traded to Ottawa. He has one more year left on his contract at a $4.6-million cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list, giving him some power on where he could land if trade talks heat up in the summer. The defenseman is eligible to sign an extension starting July 1, and he remains adamant that he’s happy in Ottawa, playing in front of his grandfather and wanting to help the franchise.

“What’s disappointing is not the (trade) talks,” he said. “It’s the way the season has gone for us as a group. If things were different, none of this would be going on. That’s the most frustrating thing for me. We all had such high hopes for this group, and we haven’t lived up to those expectations. That’s the toughest pill to swallow.”

The Senators have indeed had a disappointing season, currently sitting in last place in the Atlantic division, and too far into the chase for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern conference, meaning another summer playing golf too soon.

Since joining the Senators, Chychrun has collected 36 points. I feel for the guy, and certainly hope the summer isn’t as rough on him as was the trade deadline…

Recommended articles:

• Senators address Brady Tkachuk trade rumours after he landed on the block!
• Ottawa's Jakob Chychrun fires back at trade rumors
• Offers coming in for Jakob Chychrun!
• Brutal change of heart for Jakob Chychrun leads to potential trade
• Jakob Chychrun reveals why he walked out with the Stars!