Friedman: NY Islanders "looking around Jakob Chychrun, but should find a scorer"

Since the Arizona Coyotes have been shopping defenseman Jakob Chychrun dating back to the beginning of the 2021-22 season, the NY Islanders have always been a team that has been listed as "interested" in the 24-year-old defenseman. That sentiment was reiterated again on Tuesday when Elliotte Friedman joined Jeff Marek on Tuesday's edition of The Jeff Marek Show, but this time, Friedman gave his opinion on the matter.

"I wonder if the philosphy is going to change. I'll be honest, someone told me the other day that the Islanders were looking around at Chychrun. It makes a little bit of sense because one of the things Lane Lambert talked about at the morning skate was one of the problems they have is breaking out of their own zone. Now, (Adam) Pelech has been hurt and that affects their game although he was back (Monday) night. They have a deep (defense) so I'm not sure that's going to work. Knowing what the price is for Chychrun... I don't know if it makes sense for the Islanders to pay that."

According to Hailey Salvian of The Athletic, the asking price by the Coyotes for Chychrun is two first-round picks plus a prospect. The Islanders haven't made a first-round selection since the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and their top prospect in Aatu Räty is already showing promise for the Islanders with a steep dropoff in talent after him. So, they probably won't want to move Räty, and mortgaging more future at this point to bring in Chychrun on an already deep blue line seems counterproductive. Instead, Friedman indicated the Islanders should take a different route.

Friedman states: "I think the question is going to become 'you had a great run with this group, it's prbably at the end, where do you adjust to now?' I think all of their resources should be poured into finding a scorer. Where can you find a scorer?"

Marek, "just spitballing," throws the name Patrik Laine into the conversation. It was just a conversation over a "cup of coffee" and there was nothing to it, but Friedman indicates that Laine is a perfect fit for the Islanders. There's no indication that the Columbus Blue Jackets are interested in moving the Finnish sniper.

A player that came back up in conversation was Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues. The Islanders and the Blues have had conversations regarding the 31-year-old sniper, and Marek speculates if conversations will resume as Tarasenko was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday.