The Arizona Coyotes like what they see in young blue-liner Jakob Chychrun, who will stay with the club past the initial 9-game trial, according to Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.
Teams can evaluate junior players in the NHL for up to nine games. After the 10th game, the team burns the first year of a player's entry-level contract.
Informed of the news, Chychrun told Morgan, "Did they say that? I didn't know that. That's great. You caught me off guard. Holy smokes. That's really special. That was the goal I've had for myself for a while now. Geez, that's a dream come true for me, really."
The Coyotes drafted Chychrun 16th overall in the 2016 entry draft. That pick was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Arizona taking on the $7.5-million cap hit of KHLer Pavel Datsyuk.
A native of Boca Raton, Fla., Chychrun has recorded three points in eight games this season. On Tuesday versus the San Jose Sharks, the 18-year-old recorded a season-high 23:39 of ice time.
The Coyotes will have a similar decision to make regarding forwards Lawson Crouse and Dylan Strome, who can both return to the OHL but as 19-year-olds are ineligible for the American Hockey League.
Crouse has one goal in six games this season, while Strome has an assist through four games.
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