Coyotes trade Chychrun to Senators for 3 picks

The Ottawa Senators have won the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes.

Ottawa acquired the defenseman from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a top-five protected pick this year, a 2024 conditional second-rounder, and a 2026 second-round selection, the clubs announced Wednesday.

If the Coyotes land in the top five of this year's draft, that pick will slide to next year and become an unprotected first-rounder. If the Senators reach the Eastern Conference Final this spring, the 2024 second-round choice becomes a top-10 protected first-rounder in the same year; if Arizona is in the top 10, the pick becomes an unprotected 2025 first-round selection.

Chychrun was - and has long been - one of the most tantalizing trade targets on the market. He's signed through 2024-25 at a $4.6-million cap hit.

The Florida-born rearguard hasn't played since Feb. 10 because the Coyotes were holding him out to protect their trade asset from injury.

The Chychrun saga dated back to at least January 2022 when the Coyotes were reportedly seeking an "Eichel-like haul" - as in similar to what the Buffalo Sabres got when they traded Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. Trade interest in Chychrun apparently intensified at multiple junctures, including last fall.

With Bo Horvat, Timo Meier, Patrick Kane, and other big names already dealt, Chychrun was the best player available two days before the deadline.

The 24-year-old has seven goals and 21 assists in 36 games this season. He was in his seventh campaign with Arizona. The Coyotes drafted him 16th overall in 2016.