If you remember, we interviewed Leon Draisaitl at (the) NHL All-Star (game)… He said “we don’t like to talk about these things. There’s people paid to make these decisons. Yes, we give our opinions.”

From what I understand, one of the things the Oilers players have made very clear is if they make a trade, they want to make sure it’s somebody who can get the puck out of the zone. Not just bang it off the glass, but move it. The Oilers feel they’re a better team when they have that kind of player back there.

Now, everybody can debate this. They can say “we think Edmonton should get this, we think Edmonton needs a heavier presence.” That’s the great thing about sports: we’re here to debate. But I believe the Oilers are listening, at least, to their top players who said “we prefer puck-moving” and they’re going to look into that. The best puck-mover available is Erik Karlsson.

Let me say this: from what I’ve heard about Karlsson is he’s trying not to think about it until he’s actually presented with something. He wants to go to a winning situation, but I think the key here is: can the Oilers get him to a $6.5-7-million player, and that means the Sharks, for four years, are going to have to eat somewhere between $4-5-million and there’s only one person who can decide if San Jose is willing to do that, and that is the guy who signs the checks and pays the bills.

The other thing someone pointed out to me Saturday night is you could always do this with a third team. That maybe a third team could get involved, but again — a third team is going to have to get involved to eat money for four years. It’s $2-$2.5-million. What are you going to have to pay for a team to do that? It’s not going to be a fifth round pick.

Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny made the reality of Chychrun’s situation very clear in his media availability on Monday afternoon: “He will remain out of the lineup until something happens.”

Chychrun missed the Coyotes’ 6–5 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday for what the team called “trade-related reasons.” The same policy will be in effect on Monday evening as the Coyotes take on the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Having been on the trade block since the start of the 2021–22 season, Chychrun’s name has circled the rumor mill with increasing frequency as the Mar. 3 trade deadline nears.

The Coyotes originally selected Chychrun in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old defenseman has seven goals and 28 points while averaging 23:16 of ice time in 36 games with the Coyotes this year

Chychrun is under contract with the Coyotes at a $4.6 million cap hit through the end of the 2024–25 season. His deal does not include any trade or movement protection.

Through 373 career NHL games with the Coyotes, Chychrun has amassed 60 goals and 170 points. He helped the Coyotes reach the playoffs in 2020 and has averaged at least 20 minutes per game in each of the last six seasons.