It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re into the year of 2025 and that means the rumours will start flying. There could be some teams making trades, but others are looking to extend key pieces of their rosters. We’ve seen some clubs take a big step forward. This means general managers want to keep some of these important players in the fold. One team that’s made a big leap forward is the Washington Capitals. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the Capitals looking to extend a vital defender.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Washington Capitals Looking to Re-Sign Blueliner
Rumour: The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber talked to defender Jakob Chychrun about a possible contract extension.
Analysis: Chychrun has played well since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the off-season. The 26-year-old has been a great fit in the American capital with 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 34 games. He’s had some rocky points with the Arizona Coyotes and the Senators. However, he’s taken to his new team pretty well.
Chychrun previously mentioned in an interview with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox that he was open to signing an extension. It’s only a small sample size, but he’s pushing to get himself a raise from his current deal.
The Boca Raton, Florida native is currently making $4.6 million this season. However, he’s in the last year of his contract and seeking a bump in pay.
Enjoying His Time in D.C.
It looks like Chychrun has been a big fan of the winning culture in the interview with Silber. Washington barely made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. However, they’re one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and in the mix for a Metropolitan Division title.
His previous career-highs have been 18 goals and 41 points with the Coyotes in 2020-21. (He tied that mark last season with the Senators.) Those numbers are likely to get eclipsed barring disaster and that means a subsequent raise.
Silber mentions that asking price probably won’t be cheap. However, Washington General Manager Chris Patrick has given the team some financial flexibility coming into the next season. Some important deals like the Nicklas Backstrom deal are coming off the books and that will give Patrick some room to work with in the coming off-season.
What It Means
Chychrun told Fox in December that he would love to re-sign with the Capitals. It seems like Chychrun loves living in Virginia and his family has settled into the area.
Seeing some of those deals end means Chychrun will likely get some of that money should the two sides want a deal. It also helps seeing the salary cap go up by almost a few million dollars. That added money will give Patrick some room and give Chychrun that well-deserved raise.
Washington is doing well and could be playing some meaningful hockey deep into the late spring. Chychrun has been a great addition and he wants to be a part of the plan for the Capitals’ revival.
Main photo by: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
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