Jakob Chychrun

Jakob Chychrun (born March 31, 1998) is an American–Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

In 2013, Chychrun was drafted by the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL draft.

USA Hockey implemented a rule requiring 15-year-old players to receive a special exemption to play junior hockey.

Chychrun applied for one but was denied.

As a result, Chychrun played his minor midget season for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.

Following his outstanding GTHL season, Chychrun was selected first overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

He played 12 games with the Sting during the 2014–15 season before suffering a shoulder injury.

He subsequently missed eight weeks, including the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, before returning to the lineup on December 19.

As a member of the Sting, Chychrun attended Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School and was recognized as the West Division Academic Player of the Month for November 2014.

Upon returning from his injury, Chychrun tallied five goals and 10 points through his first eight games.

In January, Chychrun was named an alternate captain alongside Stephen Pierog and Daniel Nikandrov.

Despite missing 22 games, Chychrun quickly tallied 22 points in 26 games played to rank in the 13 in OHL Rookie scoring by February 3.

He finished the season with 16 goals and 33 points through 42 games to earn nominations for the Emms Family Award, the Max Kaminsky Trophy, and the Red Tilson Trophy.

He was also voted onto the 2014-15 OHL All-Rookie First Team.

He earned these honours despite missing the final 26 games of the regular season and the OHL 2015 playoffs because of an upper-body injury.

Chychrun returned to the Sting for the 2015–16 season as an assistant captain.

By October 21, Chychrun had registered one goal, five assists, and a plus-6 rating through his first 10 games and was selected to participate in the 2015 CHL Canada-Russia Series.

This was far lower than expected; prior to the start of the 2015–16 season, Chychrun was regarded as a top three selection.

He was drafted 16th overall by the Arizona Coyotes at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Chychrun was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida.

His father, Jeff, is a former defenceman who played for eight seasons in the NHL.

He is also the nephew of Luke Richardson, a former NHL defenceman and current head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.

His mother is Nancy Chychrun, and he has a sister, Taylor.

He is a dual American–Canadian citizen of Ukrainian and Jewish descent.

He attended American Heritage School in Boca Raton from Pre-kindergarten to ninth grade.

After his cousin Daron died by suicide, Chychrun established the 'Do It For Daron' movement to raise awareness and spark conversations about suicide and youth mental health.

Chychrun started playing hockey in his home state of Florida with the Junior Everblades and the Florida Jr. Panthers organizations.

When Chychrun was 13, he joined the Little Caesars hockey organization in Detroit, Michigan, where he played very well during his major bantam season.

At the time, he continued living and practising in Florida, travelling to Michigan on the weekends to play.

The following season he remained with Little Caesars, playing for their U16 team.

In his first year as a draft-eligible player, Chychrun received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting Bureau in November and was expected to be one of the top three players picked at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

He was eventually drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the first round, sixteenth overall.

On July 30, 2016, Chychrun concluded his OHL career and signed a three-year, NHL entry-level contract with the Coyotes.

Following the signing, he was one of 29 prospects who participated in the Coyotes 2016–17 Rookie Camp at Gila River Arena.

After impressing at the rookie camp, he participated in the Coyotes preseason.

During his first two preseason games, he averaged 22 minutes of ice time and played a physical game while also tallying points.

Due to his impressive play, Chychrun subsequently became the youngest player in Coyotes history to make his NHL debut with the team at 18 years and 198 days.

As a result of his age, Chychrun would not be eligible to play in the American Hockey League for the 2016–17 season if the Coyotes wished to move him.

On October 15, 2016, Chychrun became the third-youngest player to skate in a game for the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise.

He tallied his first career NHL point, an assist, in his debut game to lift the Coyotes to a 4–3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.