New favorite suddenly emerges in Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes!

All eyes have been on Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun ever since he returned to action last week from a season-ending ankle injury he suffered back in March and underwent wrist surgery in the offseason. He has looked good in his first four games, collecting three points with a plus-minus of plus-three.

When his name was brought up in trade chatter earlier this season, Chychrun was linked to the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

However, according to Michael Traikos of Post Media, the Buffalo Sabres are now the new favourite to acquire Chychrun, as he quotes Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek: “the Sabres could be a “dark horse” in acquiring the 24-year-old.” This is what Traikos adds on Buffalo leading the sweepstakes:

“After all, a deal with the Sabres makes sense for a number of reasons. They have the cap space to get a deal done, with only the Coyotes having more financial flexibility. And they have the prospects to get a deal done, with Buffalo having made five first-round picks in the past two years.”

There is no doubt that the Sabres have room for Chychrun, who is under contract through 2024-25 at $4.6 million annually, and could tempt the Coyotes with a hefty return.

But let’s remember how GM Bill Armstrong is rumoured to be asking for two first-round picks plus either a prospect or a young NHL player in a monster trade for Chychrun.

I guess we will see closer to the deadline if the Sabres are the ones who ended up winning Chychrun’s services.