Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on Sirius XM NHL Community Radio Morning Skate on Wednesday with Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick. He was requested about Jakob Chychrun‘s new contract with the Washington Capitals and the way this deal will look good when the wage cap goes up.
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Scott Laughlin: “Hey, Friedge, you talked about (Jakob) Chychryn. Clearly, I need to get your ideas on his contract. And look, I feel, he got here out of the Ontario Hockey League with such fanfare, the factor that’s at all times labored in opposition to him, wherever he’s been, as we all know, has been damage and folks have talked about, whilst a teen, as to how ripped he was and low proportion physique fats, he can do these freakish athletic issues. And naturally, the old fashioned guys would say, ‘Properly, perhaps he’s simply too match and he’s too tight, and perhaps that’s led to some accidents.’
Regardless, he’s had a tremendous season for the Capitals, and he has been an enormous difference-maker on the again finish for the Caps as they attempt to win the President’s Trophy. That having been mentioned, eight occasions 9, I feel lots of people received stunned by the 9 on the AAV Friedge.
What are your ideas on eight occasions 9 for Jakob Chychrun at this stage? Once more, well being has at all times been a query. However as a result of the cap goes up right here within the subsequent yr, 2-3-4, and is de facto going to begin to take off, we’re hoping for everyone involved, ought to we simply get used to the defenseman incomes extra on a mean annual worth?”
Elliotte Friedman: “I feel we’re going to get used to everyone incomes extra. And like I heard when Washington and Chychrun first began negotiating, that was the ask within the Darnell Nurse space, after which Nurse is 9.25. And in case you’ve listened to a number of the feedback within the final days, since this was achieved, it’s fairly clear that the Capitals initially weren’t positive they have been going to go there, however ultimately simply mentioned, what, we’re going to go there.
And I used to be serious about this the opposite day. One of many large conversations us in regards to the proportion of the cap, proper? And if the cap goes as much as the place you have a look at the numbers, what we’re coping with, we’re going to simply beneath 115 (million) in a few years, and so long as issues keep the identical, they’re going to go increased than that. And so proper now, like 9 just isn’t going to look as excessive in a few years because it does now.
And I feel that Chychrun had the leverage. He had the hammer. And I feel there’s undoubtedly a sense that if he’d gone to open market, he felt snug that one thing like this was going to be on the market for him. He was prepared to take the prospect. And I simply suppose the too 9 proper now, it simply won’t look as excessive in a couple of years. And as you mentioned, he had an excellent yr.
However the different factor, I feel that’s an element right here, is that John Carlson is 35 years previous and nonetheless a extremely good participant, however ultimately probably the greatest, if not the very best protection. Properly, I might say (Rob) Langway might be the very best defenseman in Capitals historical past, probably the greatest defensemen in Capitals historical past, received’t be round anymore. And I feel they sort of checked out it as what Chychrun will help offset that he’s going to be an impactful participant for us for some time. And while you’re trying to substitute a quantity 1D such as you ultimately might be with Carlson, then you definately’ve received a man. the man. And what these are laborious to seek out.
I perceive precisely why they did it. And the opposite factor, too, is that I simply received to Winnipeg. I couldn’t get right here in time for the sport final evening, however I did see some folks after the sport yesterday, and one of many issues they have been telling me was that you can actually inform in that Washington costume room within the morning skate that they actually like one another.
That group has a little bit of a particular chemistry proper now. And the Capitals didn’t actually need to idiot round with that on the deadline. They added (Anthony) Beauvillier, however aside from that, they stood pat. And I feel they sort of have a look at it like a part of the rationale we’re profitable this yr is that we’ve a group that basically will get alongside nicely.
And you can inform that by the actual fact they put the $100 invoice on his jersey on the morning skate. And I feel they only mentioned, like, we consider in that. So I get all this. I feel while you first have a look at the quantity, there’s a little bit of a sticker shock, however it’s like Walter Gretzky mentioned to Wayne Gretzky, have a look at the puck the place it’s going, not the place it’s.”
