Writer’s Twitter: @antbarberio1

The Arizona Coyotes are in fire-sale mode and will get rid of any asset that has value. The situation in the desert has become like a hysterically bad used car dealership commercial. You can almost imagine general manager Bill Armstrong selling into the camera “everything must go!”

Most of Arizona’s prime pieces were sold off before the season began. The one piece left, and will in all likelihood be moved before the trade deadline. This being defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The internet is full of articles speculating where the offensively gifted defenseman will end up, yet there’s no front-runner. Since hypothetical trades is one of the things that are intriguing to discuss. Should the New Jersey Devils pursue a trade for Chychrun?

Let’s Talk Current Contract

The 23-year old has three seasons left on a six-year deal he signed before the 2019-2020 season. Of course, that was back when the Coyotes thought they were about to contend and before they entered a “rebuild of a rebuild” mode. That contract covers a cap hit of $4,600,000 every year. Worth noting, in the last two years a modified no-trade clause kicks in.

Crowded Blue Line

Yes, Dougie Hamilton is injured right now. But, the Devils top-four has been solidified with Hamilton, Ryan Graves, Damon Severson, and Jonas Siegenthaler. Let’s assume for a second the team plans to keep it that way. With the Devils in no clear need of a top-four defenseman, would this be a trade even worth pursuing? Would Chychrun might fall into the category of a “want” more than a “need” for New Jersey?

What If A Spot Opens Up?

All of the Devils’ top-four are signed beyond this season. Hamilton, as we know, is here for the long-term. Graves and Siegenthaler each have one more year on their contract. Graves will be an unrestricted free agent after next season, while Siegenthaler will be a restricted free agent.

Then there’s Damon Severson. In the absence of Hamilton, Severson has been the team’s best defenseman and a stabilizing presence on the blue-line. Still every season Devils fans seem to throw his name on the trade block. General manager Tom Fitzgerald hasn’t said anything about trading Severson, but he hasn’t seemed to rule it out either. Severson also has one more year left on his deal. However, due to the fact he’s not on an expiring contract, and has shown his skill level of a top-four defensemen, teams may make him a trade target. Especially ones that do not want to pay a terribly large package.

In that scenario, Chychrun might be a replacement in the Devils’ top four. This is also heavily dependent on how the Devils view Severson’s long-term goals with the team, or more immediately their plans at the deadline. You could make the argument that Chychrun could replace Graves’ role on the Devils top-pairing with Dougie Hamilton if he leaves after next season via free agency. But, would it be worthwhile to make a costly move now for something you have a year and a half to figure out?

Don’t Forget About The Prospects

The Devils also have a few quality defenseman in their prospect pipeline. Luke Hughes is having a historic year at the NCAA-level and will be in the NHL sooner than later. Remember, the team also recently signed former first round pick Shakir Mukhamadullin who may arrive in the new couple years. The anticipated arrivals of both, in the next few years at most, might make Chychrun expendable in the Devils’ overall plans.

What Would Arizona Want?

If Arizona’s recent trades are of any indication, they want draft picks. They sold off their assets to stock up on the draft picks they lost via trade or from the combine scandal where the NHL took them away. Arizona also wants NHL players, not necessarily good NHL players, but players that can fill an NHL roster.

Let’s pretend the Devils want Chychrun and what a package would look like. Considering the team has had five first round picks in the past two drafts, Fitzgerald might be open to trading a first round pick. Arizona would likely want more. Fitzgerald could send over former Arizona Coyote Kevin Bahl, acquired in the Taylor Hall trade, who’s spent most of this season in the AHL. Bahl isn’t at the level of Chychrun, but he would fit the, “we need someone to fill a roster spot,” approach Arizona took with previous trades.

Bahl and a first round pick wouldn’t even be enough. The Devils might be willing to throw in a “B-level” prospect, but there’s no way they’d part way with a blue-chip prospect. If not a prospect, maybe an additional second or third round pick would be enough to convince Arizona.

Another Team Is A Better Fit

With the defenseman they already have, and the prospects waiting to come over, there’s no reason the Devils to pursue a Jakob Chychrun trade. There’s another teams more in the need for his services, looking at him as the potential “missing piece” for a playoff run (such as the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, or the New York Rangers, who have also been thrown around as a potential destination). Let those teams get into the bidding war. There’s teams out there that want Chychrun more than the Devils do, and are willing to pay more anyway.