Jakob Chychrun’s trade price reaches new heights!

Jakob Chychrun made his season debut Monday night, prompting trade chatter to boil up again. It was obvious that there would be renewed interest in the Arizona Coyotes defenseman on the trade market. Teams will now be able to see how he performs, as he has returned from a season-ending ankle injury he suffered back in March and underwent wrist surgery in the offseason.

The Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets were reportedly interested in Chychrun ahead of the season, and we bet they’ll keep a close eye now that he’s back.

However, those interested teams might get scared off by GM Bill Armstrong’s asking price. We all expect Chychrun to go for a lot if he gets traded ahead of the March deadline, but what Pierre LeBrun revealed on Insider Trading on TSN last night proves that gas prices aren’t the only thing going up.

“Played north of 23 minutes by the way, I wonder how many teams notice that. It is a high price and listen, I think it’s important to understand why Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong is asking for two first-round picks plus either a prospect or a young NHL player in any deal for Brandon Hagel. Number one, I think he’s looked at the Hampus Lindholm deal from a year ago where Anaheim got a first-round pick and two seconds for an older player who was a pending UFA and ends up going to Boston, of course the Bruins signed him. There’s the Brandon Hagel deal Chicago getting two first-round picks for Hagel because of his cheap cap and Chychrun is young, he’s got a bargain contract and if history shows us anything in terms of the Darcy Kuemper trade where Arizona got a first and a young player and a third. Bill Armstrong is going to stick to his price.”

On Monday, Chychrun was paired with Shayne Gostisbehere, but failed to record a point and posted a -1 rating.

He recorded 21 points in 47 games last season, and he collected 18 goals and 23 assists in 56 contests the year prior, finishing 10th in Norris Trophy voting.

Chychrun is under contract through 2024-25 at $4.6 million annually.