Tampa Bay Lightning Trade Deadline Target: Senators Top Defender
The Tampa Bay Lightning trade deadline and any potential targets will be interesting to watch this season. Over the last several seasons, they’ve been active with deals. It started with Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. More recently, it has been Tanner Jeannot and Michael Eyssimont. This season, there is a question of what the Lightning should do; buy or sell? Here at Last Word, Kyle Pereira and Jack Pallotta will start a series where they look at some potential trades. Let’s say they buy, who do they get? What do they give up? Today, we look at defenceman Jakob Chychrun of the Ottawa Senators.
Disclaimer: The players featured in these articles aren’t always linked to the Lightning but have been made available in some capacity this season. These pieces are observing whether Tampa should target them and what the cost would be if they did.
Who the Tampa Bay Lightning Checked On at the Trade Deadline: Jakob Chychrun
The 16th overall pick of the 2016 NHL entry draft is available for trade for the second straight season. Last year, the Senators acquired Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick, a conditional 2024 second-round draft pick, and a 2026 second-round pick. This season, the Senators continue to shop Chychrun’s name in the trade market. According to David Pagnotta, the Lightning have checked in on the top defenceman today. In other words, the Lightning can potentially add Chychrun before the trade deadline on Friday. Let’s analyze Chychrun’s game and discuss if he’s a possible fit in Tampa Bay.
Chychrun Scouting Report
The Florida native is an elite all-around defenceman. Chychrun possesses superb skating abilities and edge control to build his talented offensive skill set. The 25-year-old has a rocket of a shot and can play on the power play. With the right coaching, his defensive game is above average. However, at times, Chychrun ends up lost in his own end. We would not worry about Chychrun’s defensive question marks playing for Jon Cooper and the Lightning.
In 59 games this season, Chychrun has nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points. He’s projected to finish the year with a respectable 13 goals and 31 assists, totaling 41 points in 82 games. Chychrun has roughly 450 games of NHL experience, recording 71 goals and 135 assists for 206 points in 444 games played. His career-best production came during the 2020-21 season, where he notched 41 points in 56 games. With that, why would Tampa Bay target a young stud like Chychrun?
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