The Arizona Coyotes announced that defenseman Jakob Chychrun would not return for the Coyotes tonight after suffering a lower-body injury against the Boston Bruins. Interestingly, this was Chychrun’s second trip to the dressing room of the evening, after leaving the ice earlier in the game and returning, before taking a hit from Boston’s Derek Forbort. As a result of the hit, Chychrun fell awkwardly into the boards.
The injury carries multiple layers of concern for the Coyoytes. While the team is first and foremost concerned with the health of Chychrun, he is one of Arizona’s most important players. It’s also no secret that Chychrun’s name has been front and center among potential trade bait as the NHL’s trade deadline nears, and any long-term injury to Chychrun could drastically affect his market.
- In the 32 Thoughts segment of Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added another interesting name to the trade deadline discussion: John Marino. Friedman mentions Marino as a potential option for the Vancouver Canucks, who are searching for an impact defenseman. Friedman adds, however, that the Pittsburgh Penguins very much like Marino and would certainly prefer to keep him. The idea of trading Marino might seem misplaced, especially with the Penguins sitting in second place in the Metropolitan Division, however Vancouver could utilize one of their forward assets such as J.T. Miller or Brock Boeser to try and acquire Marino from Pittsburgh. Even if the young defenseman could bring the Penguins a player like Boeser, Marino is signed through the 2026-27 season at a very reasonable $4.4MM per season, something the salary-cap-mindful Penguins may not want to part with.
- Joining Friedman on Hockey Night in Canada was Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, who took a name out of the deadline conversation: John Klingberg. Marek mentions that with Miro Heiskanen expected to miss time with mononucleosis, Klingberg may now be more valuable to the Stars than what they could get back for him. Rumors had started to circulate around Klingberg as a potential trade chip when it appeared the Stars would not be able to re-sign the pending UFA. While the talented defenseman would likely bring back a large return for Dallas, the team is in the midst of a playoff push and could use Klingberg for its own benefit. Even if Klingberg leaves via free agency in the summer, he could function as a rental for Dallas, who may have sought to replace him anyways if they were to trade him away. With nine days to go until the NHL’s trade deadline, things can surely change, but for now, it appears Klingberg is staying put.
- ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports that New York Rangers’ goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has switched agents ahead of the trade deadline. Georgiev is now represented by Gerry Johannson of TSC Hockey. It is not immediately clear why Georgiev changed his representation, but the switch is noteworthy considering Georgiev is one of the more likely names to be moved ahead of the trade deadline.
I don’t understand why the Penguins would move Marino. They’re in a playoff spot. He’s young, affordable, signed long term, playing well… literally all the reasons you would keep him are checked off. There is NO reason to move him. If it’s to package him to acquire Boeser it’s not worth it. Letang isn’t getting any younger.
Teams dodging a bullet by Klingberg coming off the market. He’s awful.
The scenarios in which the Pens would trade Marino are far fetched.
A deal with Jimmy would make sense, but there really are no great fits with VAN…unless they’d move Schenn. He’d be a perfect partner for Matheson.
But, using Marino to rent Miller or Boeser makes no sense.
In a perfect but still realistic world, the Pens would do something along the lines of getting Colin Miller from BUF as 6D, Andreas Athanasiou from LA as a mid six wing and trading Kapanen in a deal for Dominik Kubalik. Moving out ZAR if need be.
Miller is not a rental.
Yeah, I think this mooted scenario is farfetched. Just the other way around. Because, good grief. Marino’s a solid defenseman, but he’s no more than a middle-pairing guy who doesn’t rank higher than #4 on the Pens’ depth chart. He’s not going to be an “impact” defenseman for the Canucks any more than he is in Pittsburgh.
And someone thinks they could get MILLER for him? Seriously? Sorry, but last I checked, Rutherford wasn’t smoking whacky weed. Miller’s on track for 30 goals, he’s potted 20+ five of the last six full seasons, he has a year of term left at a decent hit for a top-line forward, and Vancouver would expect to get a LOT more for him on this year’s market.
Boeser? This “mediocre” season a lot of folks have him playing still has him projecting to around 25 goals and 50 points. (And as a RFA, also not a rental.) I like his chances to bounce back a lot better than I like Marino’s chances to turn into Rod Langway, which he’d need to be in this discussion.
Exactly, trade them for the player about to bust, a first and a spare part package.
Not moving a mid twenties D man with that floor and that ceiling signed cheap for a rental.
Just curious, who is #3 on the Pens depth chart?
I’d argue that both Matheson and Dumoulin are having better years — if not all THAT much better — and certainly better resumes.
Possible scenario; Dorion moves Forsberg and Mete to Rangers for Goergiev and either a mid tier prospect or draft pick. Rangers save on cap hit and receive a goalie who is more consistent. Sens receive a goalie in return to help finish the season while Murray is out.
I like it but I think the Sens hold on to Forsberg because he is such a bargain. If NYR gives them Georgiev and Lundkvist for Mete and Forsberg….done deal but an over payment from NYR.
Ottawa may be able to trade Mete to Detroit for a 5th or 6th, as Detroit may trade Leddy and/or Staal soon. Mete is not a typical Yzerman D-man, but would be a cheap stop gap for the rest of the season.
Way over pay
Georgiev alone is more valuable than both Senator players!
Great reply. Like you typed, Sens will hold into him because of the money. I do like your suggestion of lundqvist and yes it would be an overpay.
Mete for a late dp makes the most sense too
In what universe is Georgiev better than both of them? Forsberg is having a nice season for a bad team. Georgiev is having a lousy season for a good team. It’s been three seasons since Georgiev was better than league average. I wouldn’t take Georgiev for Forsberg straight up, since in Ottawa’s shoes I’d have little interest in extending an offer sheet to him, and for the rest of this season Forsberg costs less to provide better goaltending.
I agree that the Rangers would want Forsberg to provide a better backup for Shesterkin going into the playoffs, but there’s a lack of good goalies available at this deadline. If I was Ottawa’s GM, I wouldn’t accept less than a 2nd rounder straight up for him, and if you wanted me to take Georgiev’s cap hit off of your hands as well, then the Rangers would have to fork over more.
And if you think that’s an overpay … think I couldn’t get at LEAST that much from Vegas, at this point? At least New York already HAS a starter they can rely on.