Jakob Chychrun opens up about Senators trade, long-term fit with Capitals

Players like Jakob Chychrun, teams usually lock ’em up.

Bona fide 20-minutes-a-night defencemen with pedigree (16th-overall draft pick, son of eight-season NHLer Jeff), size (six feet, two inches, 205 pounds of wide-neck and cut muscle) and offensive upside (two 41-point campaigns) seldom get traded.

And yet, here stands prime Chychrun, twice dealt by age 26 and making a good case to not become the most coveted left-shot defenceman on 2025’s free agent market. To not join a fourth NHL franchise shortly after his 27th birthday.

By how he looks on the ice and how he sounds off it, the third sweater could be the charm.

Still catching his breath following a hard skate inside the Washington Capitals’ Virginia-based practice complex, the confident and upbeat Chychrun offers not to shake a visitor’s hand. (He’s too sweaty. No one wants that.)

“It just seems like a great fit for me personally and for my team. They talked a lot in the offseason about how they wanted to get more offence and get more especially from the back end,” Chychrun, the newest member of the Capitals’ top four, told Sportsnet.

“So, they made a lot of moves this summer. I think all of them have been paying off.”

The 2023-24 Capitals fluked into the postseason by winning a turtle derby despite operating the league’s fifth-worst offence (2.63 goals per game).

Thanks to GM Chris Patrick’s drastic overhaul, and coach Spencer Carbery’s goal-focused schemes, the Capitals are suddenly the most dangerous offensive team in hockey, leading all 32 clubs with a 4.08 goals-per-night clip.

Chychrun — now partnering with Team USA snub John Carlson on a rare two-defenceman power play — plays a massive role in the uptick.

He returns to Ontario this weekend as the NHL’s Third Star of the Week, tied for the goals lead among all blueliners (eight) despite playing at least five fewer games than co-leaders Cale Makar and Zach Werenski.

Chychrun’s previous career peaks of 18 goals and 41 points are in grave danger this contract year, as he is on pace for 32 goals and 61 points, all while maintaining a career-best plus-10 rating.

Bonus: The Capitals are sitting pretty in the Metropolitan Division penthouse.

Funny how a good team can bring out the best in a good talent and vice versa.

“All the new guys came here, and the guys who’ve been here a while made us feel very welcome right away. It’s been a very easy transition for me,” Chychrun said.

“Trades can be really tough, tough to settle in. And it definitely is, away from the rink. But it’s nice when you come to the rink and things are just easy with the guys, easy with coaches. Everybody wants to get better. Guys have won in this room, so it’s just been a great experience.”

From his spotty injury history to his lack of playoff exposure (one postseason in nine tries), you wonder if the well-rounded defenceman wouldn't leap at the chance for long-term D.C. security after admitting frustration in his previous two stops.

So… does he see himself re-signing?

“For sure. I mean, that's definitely a question that we love to get asked all the time,” Chychrun smiled, knowing well the hockey world’s fascination with UFAs and trade rumours.

“We've really loved everything about being here, from living in Virginia, playing in D.C., driving by the White House every day. Great neighbourhoods. Tons of families, tons of kids.

“You know, we had a block party the first week here in a house with, like, 100 kids running around. And it's just great for my wife (Olivia) and I. We love living here. We love playing here. The guys are phenomenal. One of the best organizations in the league. You see that with ownership. Just top to bottom, we’ve loved this.”

Chychrun looks back on how his one-and-a-half seasons in Ottawa were an “unfortunate” unravelling.

He wasn’t happy with his own performance (minus-31 in 94 appearances as a Senator) and his agent, Andy Scott, had told him that trade talks were heating up around June’s draft in Las Vegas. Chychrun was mentally prepared to pack his bags.

Then, nothing. Silence.

“My agent said, ‘Something might not happen now.’ And then the following day, we hopped on the phone,” Chychrun recalls. “(Scott) told me to get ready for training camp in Ottawa. And then he said, ‘Hold on, the GM’s calling me now.’

“I was traded right after that. It was a big turn. I was kind of thinking something might happen, and then it was something won’t happen. And then right away changed again to me being traded. So, it was a bit of a roller coaster. I was lucky to be with my family at the cottage, and some friends were there as well.

“At first, I didn't know what to think, and then ended up being really excited once it started to sink in.”

Capitals assistant coach Scott Allen and top centre Dylan Strome worked well with Chychrun in Arizona, his first team. Power-play coach Kirk Muller is a close family friend. And fellow summer recruit Brandon Duhaime grew up in South Florida with Chychrun.

The childhood buddies would gab about Alex Ovechkin highlights on the way to minor hockey practice. Now, Chychrun and Ovechkin have their own handshake and battle it out in epic card games of Thirteen on the Caps’ private plane.

“It was just a ton of familiarity. I started to get really excited,” Chychrun continued. “And so, things were falling into place. You start to see those moments where you believe everything happens for a reason.”

One of those moments where you believe the bounced-around, rumour-riddled defenceman has finally found his NHL home.