I can’t understand how this deal would center around chychrun. Why would we trade for the one position we don’t need? We have no top 2 centremen, are losing debrusk most likely; this team may never score another goal and we are moving our best trade asset for a f***ing defenseman? If Donnie does this he’s even dumber than I thought and that would be really hard.
I'm of two minds about it.
On the one hand, if the Bruins add Chychrun to the current group, pushing one of the bottom pair guys into the #7 role, that's an enviable situation. I look at how Buffalo keeps adding blue chip guys to that defense group and... man, that will be a big advantage for the Sabres if things pan out. Chychrun is only 26 and it would be nice to add a player barely into his prime.
On the other hand, they really need help up front. Center obviously but also wing if DeBrusk is leaving. It's the clear priority versus adding to the defense (with a bigger name addition like Chychrun, at least).
But the bottom line to me is: BPA. If Chychrun is the best asset you can get, I'd take that and figure out the rest from there. I wouldn't take lesser players/picks based on position. If Sweeney doesn't have the luxury of picking from a variety of clearly good and approximately equal choices at various positions, I'd go with BPA.