Jakob Chychrun spent parts of just two seasons with the Ottawa Senators but looks back on his time with the club fondly. The 26-year-old Capitals blueliner has family in Ottawa and spends his summers at a cottage house in the area.
While some of the defenseman’s family will likely be in attendance for his homecoming game at Canadian Tire Centre and excited to see him play, Chychrun is not expecting all cheers from the Ottawa crowd.
“Probably mixed reviews,” Chychrun said of what his reception might be. “I don’t know – I’m sure there’s gonna be some people who are not happy with me for whatever reason, be booing, but it is what it is. You’re not gonna please everybody, and I think, at times, fans think they really understand everybody’s situation in this league, and that’s just not the case. But it is what it is – I’ll be happy to come back and play in front of them, and I’m sure people will be happy to see me back playing here. So, maybe a little bit of a mixed review.”
The Senators traded Chychrun to the Caps for Nick Jensen last offseason to better balance their defense corps. Ottawa acquired Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes exactly one year and four months before moving him to Washington.
In 94 total games for the Senators, Chychrun recorded 46 points (16g, 30a). Despite missing some time early in the season with an upper-body injury, he is on pace to smash that mark with the Capitals, tallying 30 points (12g, 18a) in 39 games.
“Our team’s playing really well, and it’s been a great fit for me personally,” Chychrun said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here, and I think when you’re winning hockey games, it’s always a lot of fun. We got a great group that’s been playing well with one another, and we’re just doing our best to get better each day now.”
Chychrun is just a day removed from comments indicating he’d like to sign a potential long-term extension with Washington. He has immediately gelled with the team’s locker room and seems to have found a stylistic fit with Washington that he didn’t have in Ottawa.
“I didn’t trade myself, so I don’t know – I think a lot of people were talking about the fit,” Chychrun said Thursday. “Obviously, they got the two, [Jake Sanderson] and [Thomas Chabot] on the left side, and I just think maybe the fit wasn’t as good as it is [in Washington].”
Despite the abrupt end to his time in Ottawa and his projections for some hostility from the home crowd, Chychrun is excited to return to a building he recently called home.
“100% great memories,” Chychrun said. “It’s always nice to come back to places you’ve been to. I know my first time back in Arizona was pretty emotional for me, so here, obviously a lot of family as well, and I’m just looking forward to tonight. Hopefully, the team plays well, and we can get the win.”
Washington and Ottawa have not played one another yet this season. The Senators come into Thursday night’s test on a three-game winning streak and just one point out of the second wild card playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
