Arizona Coyotes Jakob Chychrun's Trade Request Affects Team Morale

On media day for the team's training camp start, he made it perfectly clear that the team approached him more than once on the possibility of trading him.

He understands how rebuilds work... he just doesn't wish to be part of one. At least not after six seasons in the NHL without much postseason success or participation.

It's admirable for any NHL player to want to win a Cup. But, don't forget only one team accomplishes that every season. Chychrun is acting like he's been waiting forever to get to that point. He is just entering his seventh season in the league.

By him coming out at the media day stating his position, it may be a ploy to exert pressure on GM Bill Armstrong. It won't work. Armstrong is sticking to his demands on a return and Chychrun needs to be patient, and play to the best of his ability.

So, he made his pitch and came clean. His honesty is refreshing. The thing is it doesn't appear that any team is willing to give GM Bill Armstrong the return he desires.

Thus, Chychrun remains on a team he doesn't want to play for, and that's never a good thing for team morale.

The other issue delaying Chychrun's departure from the desert is his health. He was sidelined with an ankle injury near the end of last season and only played 47 games. Then, this summer he injured his wrist. So, he had surgery on both his ankle and wrist and is recovering.

On that note, he has yet to play an entire season due to various injuries, including two knee surgeries.

By him not healthy yet, it discourages teams who may be looking to trade for him. He NEEDS to play to show his worth in a prospective deal.

There's no doubt that his situation could cause disharmony in the locker room. He wore an "A" as an assistant captain last season. We'll see if that happens during this upcoming season.