A name that flies under the radar is Jakob Chychrun. A first-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2016, he’s been quietly making his mark with the Washington Capitals this season, despite being overshadowed by other defensemen, such as Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. His two-way style of play fits perfectly with the Capitals’ scheme, and he has the stats to back it up as he’s flirting with career highs in multiple categories.
The Trade and Why It Was Perfect for the Capitals
During the 2024 offseason, the Capitals traded Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick to the Ottawa Senators for Chychrun. Jensen was a reliable defender for the Capitals in his five-season tenure with the team, coming over from the Detroit Red Wings during the 2018-19 season and playing 20 games. However, this move was a major upgrade for Washington on the offensive side of the ice.
Throughout his career, Chychrun has had a strong puck-shooting ability, as seen by his four out of nine seasons with double-digit goals. This is something the Capitals needed on the back end. Last season, they lacked in offensive production from their defensemen. Of the 12 defensemen who played for the Capitals during the 2023-24 season, they amassed 20 goals. This season, in 67 games, they have scored 33, with 18 of the 33 goals belonging to Chychrun. He has 24 helpers, giving him 42 points this season. He is also a plus-22.
Compared to the rest of the league, Chychrun is third in the NHL for goals by a defenseman, trailing Makar (24 goals) and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski (20 goals). It seems the trade helped both teams at the end of the day, as the Capitals hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the Senators hold the first wild-card spot.
Before the Capitals
Drafted with the 16th overall pick in 2016, Chychrun began his career with the Coyotes. His best season came in 2020-21, where he put up 18 goals and 41 points in 56 games. The biggest problem in Arizona was that they only made the playoffs one out of the seven seasons he was there, and that playoff appearance was the COVID-19-shortened 2019-20 season. After beating the Chicago Blackhawks in the round-robin, the Coyotes lost in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche in five games.
During the 2022-23 season, Chychrun was traded to the Senators in exchange for draft picks. The Senators looked to make a push for the playoffs when they acquired him, however, they didn’t make the playoffs in both of the seasons that they had the Boca Raton native. In Ottawa, he scored 16 goals and 46 points in 94 games. This wasn’t a good fit for Chychrun, as while he may have been considered a veteran for his service time in the league, he was still in his mid-20s.
Capitals’ Playoff Hopes Turn Into Reality
Now with the Capitals, Chychrun is in a prime position to get back to the playoffs, a place he hasn’t been since 2021. Last season, the Capitals snuck into the playoffs on the backs of an aging veteran core. Now, the young guns in Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael are in the midst of breakout seasons.
Additionally, Alexander Ovechkin continues to display his ageless talent and is poised to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. Logan Thompson is having a stellar season in between the pipes, with 28 wins in 37 games. Combine this with Chychrun’s offensive production, a boost this squad desperately needed, and they’re a team ready to make a deep playoff run.
Offensive production from defensemen is something the Capitals haven’t had a lot of consistency with in recent seasons. Relying solely on the offensive players to carry games won’t work when making a deep playoff run. Although Chychrun has nine games of experience in the playoffs and just one goal, he will bring his offensive prowess into the postseason, giving opposing teams another thing to worry about when facing the Capitals.
The Capitals seem to be the perfect fit for Chychrun, as he appears to have found his true role as a defenseman in the NHL. He might not always make headlines, but his consistency and skill are turning heads when teams come to the nation’s capital to face the beast in the east.
