The Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Jakob Chychrun to an eight-year, $72 million contract on Tuesday. At 26-years-old (he’ll turn 27 on March 31), Chychrun is scheduled to remain in the nation’s capital until he’s 35.
PuckPedia reported details about Chychrun’s new deal on X Tuesday night, including the pay structure and those trade protections he has through all eight years of the contract.
The Capitals clearly won’t want to move on from Chychrun at any point over the next eight seasons, but in the event they need to, general manager Chris Patrick will have some hurdles to clear as the high-scoring rearguard will play a big role in what team he lands on.
Chychrun #ALLCAPS 8 * $9M Cap Hit ext:
Yr 1 4M Base & 7M Signing Bonus
Yr 2 4.25M & 4M SB
Yr 3 4M & 7M SB
Yr 4 4M & 7M SB
Yr 5 3.5M & 6M SB
Yr 6 3.5M & 4M SB
Yr 7 4M & 3M SB
Yr 8 3.75M & 3M SBYr 1 -3: No Move Clause
Yr 4-7: 21 Team No Trade Clause
Yr 8: 15 Team No Trade Clause…— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) March 25, 2025
Chychrun has a full no-movement clause across the first three years of his deal. But starting in year four, Chychrun will need to provide a 21-team list he can block a move to. In the final year of the deal (2032-33), that list of unacceptable teams will be whittled down to just 15.
Of course, any trade could be facilitated if Chychrun decides to waive his no-trade clauses at any point. However, the goal is clearly to keep John Carlson’s heir apparent around for the long haul and hopefully win a Stanley Cup in the interim.
Chychrun’s base salary will be relatively stable at $4 million three out of the first four seasons (2025-26 through 2028-29) and decrease about half a million dollars three out of the next four seasons (2029-30 through 2032-33). He will carry a $9 million salary cap hit across the life of the contract.
For context, Colorado Avalanche star blue liner Cale Makar is making $10.6 million this season as part of a six-year deal he signed in 2021.
Chychrun’s signing bonuses are where the Capitals will incur some significant expense. He’ll be paid $7 million on top of his salary in three of the first four seasons of the deal before that number nearly halves in the back end.
The 26-year-old rearguard leads all Capitals defensemen in goals (18) and has posted a career-high in points (44) so far this year through 66 games. Chychrun’s 18 tallies are the most scored by a defenseman in their first year with the Caps, and he trails only Makar (26) and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski (20) in goals league-wide from defenders.
Chychrun recorded an assist on Andrew Mangiapane’s first-period goal against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night in his first game since signing the extension.
“He’s got his best hockey in front of him,” head coach Spencer Carbery told 106.7 The Fans’ Sports Junkies on Wednesday morning. “It feels like he’s just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of doing in this league.”
