Western Conference team pulls out of Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes due to price

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Joshua Deeds
October 1, 2022 (9:58)

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The Arizona Coyotes have been in a strange holding pattern when it comes to Jakob Chychrun. The Coyotes want to move the defender, but don't want to give him away. It also appears they haven't been willing to take on salary in the deal, but they're still looking for the world.

It has now been reported that Ken Holland and the Edmonton Oilers had the opportunity to acquire Chychrun, but balked at the asking price. While rumors swirled that Edmonton could return to the sweepstakes a source claimed that the price was

Too rich for our blood.

The ask was reportedly Philip Broberg or Dylan Holloway, Jesse Pulujarvi, and a 1st round pick. Edmonton deemed this too much to pull the trigger apparently. Neither player are exactly shoe-ins to make the Oilers roster in 2022-2023 if they want to remain competitive. For both players, the skill is still developing, as two-way players.

If Holland were to have pulled the trigger, Chychrun would find a spot in the Oilers' top pairings, but rather than rebuild the prospect pool, which isn't one of the best in the NHL they'd rather just do nothing.

The first selection was Philip Broberg at No. 8 in 2019. He had size (6-foot-3, 201 pounds), speed and mobility, and at the time of the draft had a more dynamic offensive than defensive game but all the tools required to eventually become a quality defenceman. He wasn't a certainty to become a complete player, but a good bet to emerge as a solid two-way defender on a quality team.

The pick in 2020 was at No. 14 and the organization, now led by Holland and director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright, drafted a forward (Dylan Holloway) who had many of the same qualities Broberg possessed. At 6-foot, 192 pounds and possessing great speed, Holloway brought a strong two-way game that included winning battles on the boards and net-front as well as a rambunctious offensive style. On his draft day, Holloway's two-way game was a little ahead of the offence, but in most other ways he was a reasonably comparable player as a forward to what Broberg brings on defence.

Broberg and Holloway are easy assets to move if you're in a win-now mode, seeing as you're $7 Million over the cap, a little relief would be nice too.