Jakob Chychrun

Lore & Background

Chychrun began hockey in Florida with the Junior Everblades and Florida Jr. Panthers. At 13, he joined the Little Caesars organization in Detroit while living and practicing in Florida, traveling to Michigan on weekends. After being denied an exemption to play USHL junior hockey at 15, he played for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the GTHL. He was selected first overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection. In his rookie OHL season, he missed 22 games due to a shoulder injury and later the final 26 games and playoffs due to an upper-body injury, yet finished with 16 goals and 33 points in 42 games, earning OHL All-Rookie First Team honors. He returned as an alternate captain for 2015–16 and received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting. Despite being expected as a top-three pick, he fell to 16th overall in the 2016 draft.

Reader's Guide

Chychrun's significance lies in his unexpected draft fall and subsequent impact with the Coyotes. After signing a three-year entry-level contract in July 2016, he became the youngest player in Coyotes history to make his NHL debut at 18 years and 198 days. He finished his rookie season tied for second among first-year NHL defensemen with seven goals and 20 points, the third-highest total by a Coyotes rookie defenseman. His career was marked by injuries: knee surgery in the 2017 off-season, a torn ACL ending his 2017–18 season, and tendinitis in his knee during the 2019 off-season. Despite these setbacks, he signed a six-year contract extension before the 2018–19 season. Off the ice, Chychrun is outspoken about his ancestral diet of raw meat and milk and seasonal eating. Following his cousin Daron's death by suicide, he became involved in the 'Do It For Daron' movement for youth mental health awareness. He identifies as a passionate Christian and started a Bible study with Capitals teammates in 2024.

Did You Know?

• Chychrun is a dual American–Canadian citizen with Ukrainian ancestry.
• His father Jeff played eight NHL seasons; his uncle Luke Richardson is a former NHL defenseman and former head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.
• He attended American Heritage School in Delray Beach from pre-kindergarten to ninth grade.

A Hockey Dynasty's Next Chapter

Jakob Chychrun was born into a family where the hockey gene runs deep. His father, Jeff, spent eight seasons as a defenseman in the NHL, and his uncle Luke Richardson followed a similar path before eventually taking the head coaching position with the Chicago Blackhawks. Growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, Jakob absorbed the game from an early age, surrounded by relatives who had already carved out professional careers on the ice. His surname traces back to Ukrainian ancestry, and he holds dual American–Canadian citizenship. His household blended two faiths—his father is Catholic and his mother, Nancy, is Jewish—yet Jakob has identified himself as a passionate Christian. In 2024, he took the initiative to start a Bible study group with fellow Washington Capitals teammates, a practice he has maintained regularly. He also has a sister, Taylor. This layered personal identity—multicultural heritage, interfaith upbringing, and deep family ties to the sport—shapes a player whose story extends well beyond the statistics on a scorecard.

From Florida Rinks to the OHL Spotlight

Jakob Chychrun's path to professional hockey began on the sun-baked rinks of his home state. He first suited up with the Junior Everblades and the Florida Jr. Panthers, learning the fundamentals far from the cold-climate traditions of Canadian junior hockey. At thirteen, he caught the eye of the Little Caesars organization in Detroit, Michigan, where his major bantam season drew strong attention. Remarkably, he continued to live and practice in Florida, making the trek to Michigan only on weekends to compete. The following year he moved up to their U16 squad. In 2013, the Youngstown Phantoms selected him in the USHL draft, but a USA Hockey rule requiring a special exemption for fifteen-year-olds playing junior hockey blocked his path when his application was denied. He instead spent his minor midget season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. That standout GTHL campaign earned him the first overall pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection, landing him with the Sarnia Sting and setting the stage for a nationally watched junior career.

The Draft Gap and a Historic Debut

Heading into the 2016 NHL entry draft, Chychrun was widely projected as a top-three selection. NHL Central Scouting had graded him an A, and his injury-plagued yet productive OHL seasons—where he still collected 33 points in 42 games as a rookie and earned All-Rookie First Team honors—only reinforced that expectation. The reality was far humbler: the Arizona Coyotes selected him sixteenth overall. Despite the surprise, Chychrun signed a three-year entry-level deal and immediately made his mark. At just eighteen years and 198 days, he became the youngest player in Coyotes franchise history to appear in an NHL game. His debut point, an assist in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, announced his arrival. Five days later he scored his first goal, beating Montreal's Carey Price. Though he was frequently scratched and played on the third pairing alongside Luke Schenn, he still finished his rookie campaign tied for second among all first-year defensemen in the league, a remarkable achievement for a player who had been passed over by multiple teams.

Advocacy, Conviction, and Life Beyond the Rink

Off the ice, Chychrun has shown a willingness to speak his mind on issues close to his heart. After his cousin Daron died by suicide, Chychrun threw himself into the 'Do It For Daron' movement, a grassroots effort aimed at raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about youth mental health. His personal convictions extend to nutrition as well; he has been vocal about following what he calls an 'ancestral diet,' which centers on raw meat, milk, and eating foods in season. In August 2024, he donated $326 to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign, a small but public expression of his political leanings. His faith also plays a visible role in his professional life: in 2024 he launched a Bible study group with Washington Capitals teammates, a gathering he has continued to attend regularly. These threads—grief, dietary philosophy, political engagement, and spiritual practice—paint a portrait of a player whose identity is shaped by far more than his defensive assignments.

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