Toronto Maple Leafs: What Is the Cost for a Jakob Chychrun Trade?

If rumours are any indication, the Toronto Maple Leafs are very interested in Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes.

Should he be acquired, the 24 year old former first rounder would likely become the Toronto Maple Leafs best defenseman, and, at worst,  would give them an enviable trio of potential super-star defenders (along with Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren).

Earlier we looked at what a Leafs blue-line might be like with him on it.

Now we check out the cost to pay the boss.

Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Cost of a Jakob Chychrun Trade

The Coyotes are asking for the classic rumour price of a star player in the NHL: three pieces.  A first rounder, a young high-ceiling roster player, and a top prospect.

Of course, prices vary, and who knows if they ever even said this or not, because frankly, that is pretty much always what it will supposedly cost to land the big fish.

Hypothetically that price would be higher for the Toronto Maple Leafs because their draft pick will be low, and they can’t dangle any sort of blue-chip prospect.

For instance, if LA wanted to offer up Quinten Byfield, the Leafs can’t match that.  Not while still having the trade improve the team.

Matthew Knies is a no-brainer here. He is the Leafs top prospect at this point, but I don’t think he has “blue chip” status. Regardless, he’s the Leafs best asset if they plan on retaining Sandin.

He’s in the trade for sure.  So is the 2023 first-rounder.

But that won’t be enough.   They’ll also want Roni Hirvonen and Topi Niemela.

If the Leafs could get Chychrun for that price, it would be a joke. I fully expect they’d ask for something closer to Robertson, Knies and two firsts.

Whatever, pay it.

In one year, Morgan Rielly would go from their best defender to their fourth.  Not bad, considering his offense is elite and you’d ideally like to pick your spots with him better.

This would strip the Leafs of enough assets to also get Timo Meier, but if they actually did get both, they really would have the best team assembled in the cap era.

I have watched the Leafs too long to believe they will any way actually go out and get one of these players, but they’ve never won the cup before either, so who knows?

Adding Jakob Chychrun would be one of the most significant deadline upgrades possible, but other teams might have the advantage of having picks that will be lower, and prospects who were drafted higher.

If they Leafs want Chychrun, they’ll have to pay something along the lines of Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and 2 x first rounders.

The cost to get him will not be something people like.