1 defenceman in the NHL, and the Senators can’t afford to lose such a talented prospect, even if it means adding a talented, young star like Chychrun.īernard-Docker is easier to lose, but still not ideal for the Senators, as he projects to be a solid middle-pairing, shutdown defender who will anchor the penalty kill. He’s an incredible skater, can log well over 20 minutes a night, and is incredibly intelligent in every zone. The young defenceman was selected fifth overall in 2019 and is on pace to set the highest point total from a North Dakota defenceman in 20 years.
Nhl 2004 rebuilt to many skaters plus#
It’s almost a certainty that the Senators would have to part with either Sanderson or Bernard-Docker, plus a 2022 first-round pick, which is looking like it’ll be in the top-10, to even get the attention of the Coyotes.Īt this time, trading Sanderson should be a deal-breaker. At one point, it was rumoured that the Coyotes were looking for two first-round picks, and while that rumour was proven false, it gives an idea of the ballpark for a potential asking price. Not only would Chychrun be unhappy with the decrease in ice time and responsibility, but the cost for the Senators to acquire him would be far too great.
Thus, Chychrun would have to settle for a second-pairing deployment, and although that would lower Chabot’s ice time, it’s likely not a role Chychrun wants to settle for. Putting him on the top pairing with Chabot could result in hampering Chabot’s ability to break out and force one of the other to play more defensively, rather than where they’re more comfortable. Chychrun, on the other hand, is more of a two-way presence with great hands and a powerful shot. That’s why Zub has fit so well beside him, and why many fans see either Bernard-Docker or Sanderson as the eventual heirs to the position. It’s clear that Chabot finds the most success when allowed to be in a more offensive role, which comes from having a defensively minded partner. Related: 3 Senators Looking to Bounce Back in 2022 He’ll have some competition with two-way defender Lassi Thomson, who also saw time alongside Chabot, as well as future star Jake Sanderson, who currently is playing with the University of North Dakota and sits second among all NCAA defensemen in points, despite his more defensive style. The 21-year-old has played eight total games and recorded just a single point thus far, but is starting to get more chances this season. He’s much more defensively skilled than Zub, but has yet to demonstrate it consistently at the NHL level. Then there’s Jacob Bernard-Docker, who’s also started seeing some minutes on the first pairing with Chabot and may end up as his permanent partner. The two have excellent chemistry and rank near the top in team possession numbers, and Zub’s defensive awareness allows Chabot to be more of the offensive player he is.
This season, he’s been with Chabot 19 percent of the time, for a total of 321 minutes. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)Īlso unlikely to come off the top pairing is his defensive partner, Artom Zub, who has been the team’s breakout star since arriving last season. While there’s an argument that he should be playing less, giving him more rest and enabling him to be more effective, there’s no way he’s ever coming off the top pairing. The reason he’s utilized so much is that the coaches trust him to be able to handle any situation. Since 2018-19, no skater in Ottawa has played more minutes than him, and it’s not even close for three seasons, he’s been on the ice at least four more minutes than the next highest average.
The Senators may not have great defensive depth, but they have an excellent blue-line leader in Thomas Chabot. It seems like a match made in heaven, but the Senators should be extremely cautious in pursuing a trade because making it happen could cost more than it’s worth. Chychrun has been one of the Coyotes’ most consistent defenders in the desert, ranking in the top-five in blocks and scoring at least 20 points in all but one of his six seasons. One area that has routinely caused them problems is on defence the team has allowed the fourth-most shots per game, averaging just over 33 shots over 60 minutes. While the Coyotes are entering into a full-scale rebuild, the Ottawa Senators are starting to see the end of theirs with management starting to shift their focus to the near future. Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
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