NHL Rumors: Scouting the Canadiens and Senators, and the Coyotes GM on Jakob Chychrun

Looking for the Canadiens and the Senators

Stu Cowan: The scouts signed up to attend last night’s Montreal Canadiens – Ottawa Senators included Tampa Bay Lightning (2), Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets , Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets.

GM Coyotes on asking price for Jakob Chychrun

NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger: Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said they’re open for business and open to almost anything. Defenders Jakob Chychrun and Shayne Gostisbehere, as well as forwards Nick Ritchie and Nick Bjugstad caught the eye.

When asked if the reports were accurate, Armstrong was asking a high price for Chychrun.

“For me, it’s quite easy to find when you look at the player involved. I think you have to focus on the fact that he’s an asset that keeps on giving. Look at it this way: he’ll be available for three playoff series. In the last year of his contract, he will be 27. He has a cap number that is very digestible and that you can work with. And he is a very good player who can add size (6 feet 2 inches, 220 pounds), skate, score points, is one of your top four defensemen and can play a ton of minutes.

Not everyone has a cap. Not everyone has the skills for that. Not everyone needs this type of player. For those who do, you get a great asset that keeps on giving because you get it for those three playoffs. And if you choose to only do two, you can try to move the asset and try to get back what you gave up. And it will be at its peak. So for me, it’s a good deal for a team that needs this type of player to win a championship. … A young D-man with such promise and less than $5 million is an attractive asset.

NHL Rumors: Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and Nick Bjugstad

Armstrong said teams check who is available and what the prices are. It comes out of the comparables of last year.

The Coyotes could have about $12 million in cap space that they could be a third team involved in to keep salary for future assets – draft picks or prospects.