Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong has been wheeling and dealing since last summer, shipping out players for draft picks and prospects in order to rebuild his roster. On Dec. 15, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Armstrong appeared to be testing the trade market for Jakob Chychrun. That news vaulted the 23-year-old defenseman atop our January NHL Trade Block Big Board.
A talented, puck-moving blueliner, Chychrun overcame early-career knee injuries to become the Coyotes' top rearguard. Signed through 2024-25, he carries an affordable $4.6 million annual salary-cap hit and lacks no-trade protection until 2023-24.