New Jersey Devils: 5 Defensemen Worth Trading Fourth-Overall Pick
By Nick Villano
Jakob Chychrun
Who knows what’s happening in Arizona? The Coyotes are in a bad way with forfeited draft picks, a controversy-ridden franchise, denouncing their big draft pick last season, and nothing to really look forward to for the next few seasons. The Yotes are stuck with an overpaid Oliver Ekman-Larsson (although, he’s still a good player), a rapidly aging Phil Kessel, and a group of stars that desperately need direction. They don’t even have a head coach right now after letting Rick Tocchet go.
This team has some really impressive talent in Christian Dvorak, Clayton Keller, and Barret Hayton. However, there’s not much beyond that on offense. Then, they have Jakob Chychrun on defense. He’s someone who could garner a massive package of picks and prospects. The Coyotes desperately need to restock the cupboard.
The issue here is the Coyotes have nothing in terms of defense beyond Chychrun and Ekman-Larsson. Ilya Lyubushkin is the only other defenseman under contract next season. For those who aren’t experts at math, that means they have three defensemen signed for next season. If they trade Chychrun without getting a defenseman in return, then they have two defensemen signed next season. Victor Söderström might be able to jump in. Maybe Cam Dineen can do something on the roster, but the Coyotes would have to add some names on the free agency market just to fill the roster.
Still, the Devils have some assets the Coyotes desperately need. They have to get prospects in the pool. The Devils have a plethora of good to great prospects who have a lot of upside in the NHL. With the Coyotes missing another 1st-round pick, they have to make the most of the assets they have now.