Maple Leafs and a 'dark horse' linked to Jakob Chychrun trade.

For what feels like the better part of a year now we have been expecting to see a trade involving Arizona Coyotes star defenseman Jakob Chychrun. It has become painfully obvious that Chychrun and the Coyotes are destined for a split, with the taltend young defenseman reportedly asking for a trade prior to the start of the 2022-23 National Hockey League regular season, but in spite of all the talk around Chychrun he remains a Coyote.

Many believed that the fact that Chychrun was sidelined with an injury had put a halt on any trade discussions and that speculation may have actually been spot on. Since Chychrun has returned to action the rumor mill around him has once again picked up steam and it now sounds like a trade may once again be on the horizon.

Recently former NHLer Nick Kypreos revealed in an article published in the Toronto Star that he believes the Maple Leafs are desperately trying to find a way to bring in the Coyotes defenseman via a trade. The problem, according to Kypreos, is that it seems the Leafs don't have the assets to outbid some of the other teams that may have interest in Chychrun as well.

From Kypreos:

For my money, and I am going to say it again, the best answer would be Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes. This is a deal Dubas had great interest in right from the start and that hasn’t wavered. Chychrun’s cost certainty remains super attractive at $4.6 million annually for three more years and Dubas remains in contact with Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong. The problem, however, is Dubas has competition. There are believed to be six clubs sniffing out a deal, and four of the more serious contenders boast a wider selection of prospects than the Leafs.

While there will no doubt be plenty of other team's interested in Chychrun, the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New York Islanders come to mind as obvious candidates, it seems that a darkhorse may be emerging in the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes. During Saturday night's NHL broadcast, NHL analyst Jeff Marek revealed his belief that the Buffalo Sabres were looking at a possible trade involving Chychrun.

"We're starting to wonder as well about maybe a dark horse candidate in the Buffalo Sabres," said Marek of a possible Chychrun trade.

Marek feels the Sabres need to start putting together more pieces of their rebuild and it seems clear he feels they have both the opportunity and the assets to pull this trade off.

It seems like a matter of time before we see Chychrun traded, the only question that remains now is where will the Coyotes be sending him?