Islanders target Jacob Chychrun on possibly of being traded

There are two obvious needs for the New York Islanders this offseason; a top-four left-handed defenseman and a top-line winger. The top name on the list for that left-handed D is Arizona Coyotes' D-man Jacob Chychrun.

If you're looking at Chychrun's production from this year you might not be too impressed. His seven goals and 21 points aren't great, but that's over 47 games. Spread that out over a full year that's 12 goals and 36 helpers for 48 points. Much better, right?

Don't forget that 2020-21 season where he scored 18 goals and 41 points in 56 games. A pace of 26 goals and 34 assists for 60 points. Add him to the Isles blue line and that would be massive.

New York Islanders target Jacob Chychrun on possibly of being traded

Now can they pull it off? Does he even want to leave? On that latter point, Chychrun was asked on Saturday if he'd be OK with being traded. And well his answer was positive from an Islanders perspective.

Now he's not saying he doesn't want to be in Arizona, but he's not not saying it either, right?

Sure, the Islanders aren't in the playoffs this year. And so that doesn't fit with what Chychrun is looking for technically. But the goal for the Islanders is to jump right back into the post-season with the right moves. This isn't a rebuild it's a retool.

Chychrun would absolutely fit in with what the Islanders are trying to do to retool for a return to Cup contender status. How about this for a top-four D-core?

Pelech-Dobson
Chychrun-Pulock

I don't know about you but that sounds like a pretty darn good group of defensemen. Can't forget about Scott Mayfield on the bottom six to round things out. Bringing in Chychrun is the type of player the Islanders are looking to pull. He's got what the Isles want and the Isles can offer him what he's looking for.

The Islanders seem like a good spot for Chychrun to land and hit his goal of "not packing up" when the playoffs begin.