Jeff Marek: NY Islanders are "right in on Jakob Chychrun"

It feels too early in the season to be talking about trade rumors, but here we go. On the latest Jeff Marek Show via Sportsnet, Marek stirred the pot speaking on the latest involving Arizona Coyotes defenseman, Jakob Chychrun. Marek was interviewing Aaron Portzline who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets for The Athletic. The two discussed the possibility of Chychrun going to Columbus via trade, however, Marek made it clear he believed other teams are involved in the situation and emphasized the NY Islanders in particular.

"It's no secret (Chychrun is) available, we've been following this story for a year now... We think of teams like the Los Angelas Kings, the St. Louis Blues, the Islanders, I think the New York Islanders are right in on Chychrun as well..."

- Jeff Marek

Obviously, we don't hear much about who the Islanders may or may not be involved with when it comes to trade talks, especially with Lou Lamoriello in charge on Long Island. However, Marek sounded pretty adament that the Islanders were more than just lurking on the Chychrun situation, and doubled down on the sentiment after Portzline's segment was up.

"I still do think that the Islanders could be one of, if not, the team. And, you know you're not going to get any information out of the Islanders organization, nothing leaks out of the walls, there is nothing there, but I would have to believe that the Islanders are one of those things in the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes."

- Jeff Marek

It's an interesting situation to think about. The Islanders, despite blanking the NY Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday, could use scoring punch up front. However, there is the situation to Scott Mayfield's that has yet to really be solved with Robin Salo and Sebastian Aho rotating in and out of that spot. The thing about Chychrun is that he's a clear top four defenseman with top-pairing potential, so in a situation where he does come to the Islanders, you wonder if newly acquired Alexander Romanov, who has had his ups and downs to start his tenure on Long Island, falls down the depth chart to the third pair on the blue line.

Nothing appears imminent, but the Islanders have a roster spot currently open after Kieffer Bellows was claimed off waivers Thursday afternoon. That could just mean Salo is recalled on Friday with the Islanders carrying just six defenseman currently. Add the fact that Chychrun has suffered a set-back in his recovery and is now labeled as "week-to-week," it could be a while before this one is settled.