Jakob Chychrun is the youngest defenseman in the NHL.

But the the 18-year-old blue-liner isn't showing his inexperience with the Arizona Coyotes.

A one-time highly touted pick, the Coyotes maneuvered at last year's entry draft to select Chychrun, taking on Pavel Datsyuk's contract from the Detroit Red Wings for the right to pick the defenseman 16th overall.

The gamble has paid off for the Coyotes, who bet against the Florida native's let-down season with the OHL's Sarnia Sting and poor showing at the Under-18 Championships a year ago that led to his tumble down the draft rankings.

Chychrun was initially seen as a long-term project that would return to junior for the 2016-17 season, but instead he's stepped into the Coyotes' lineup, playing the left side behind Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Alex Goligoski.

Ever since Arizona dealt defenseman Michael Stone to the Calgary Flames, Chychrun has taken on an expanded role, with John Chayka noting the newly freed-up minutes on the blue line would provide Chychrun with added opportunity.

Arizona has played 10 games since Stone's departure, and the uptick in Chychrun's performance has been noteworthy:

Chychrun was named the game's first star in Saturday's 5-4 win over the New Jersey Devils after recording a goal and two assists in the contest.

The young defenseman's play hasn't been lost on the Coyotes' coaching staff either.

"I think he took a major step this year and it wasn't a successful splash where you're going, 'Oh my God, if we can just get him back to that level then he's going to be a good player,'" Coyotes associate coach Jim Playfair, who's responsible for the team's defensemen, told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports. "He's made excellent, step-by-step development.

"He understands when we look at details on videotape that it's not a beatdown, it's not 'here's where you're wrong;' it's 'here's our process and here's how you can be successful.' He enjoys sitting down to gather information because he believes in the process."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here's a look at the defenseman landscape in fantasy hockey, after Florida Panthers D Aaron Ekblad suffered a concussion, Saturday night and the ongoing upper-body injury keeping Pittsburgh Penguins D Kris Letang out of the lineup:

It's unclear how long these two defensemen will be out, but if you are out of IR spots, both can be dropped. You cannot afford to have a black hole on your roster during the fantasy playoffs.

There isn't much of a fantasy fallout on Florida's side of things. Alex Petrovic and Jason Demers will see a bump in ice time, but neither are fantasy relevant.

Pittsburgh has already been without Letang for nearly two weeks, so the dust has already settled. Justin Schultz will continue to fill Letang's shoes. Meanwhile, veteran power-play specialist D Mark Streit was acquired at the deadline. He is only quarterbacking the team's second power-play unit, but he does have four points in three games since the trade.

If you don't feel comfortable banking on a 39-year-old D like Streit to replace Letang or Ekblad, consider the following three options:

T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames

Brodie had back-to-back 40-point seasons the past two years, but this season had been a major disappointment offensively... until now.

On the coattails of Calgary's 14-2-1 run, Brodie has picked up six points in his last six games. The offensive pedigree is there, and Brodie seems to be hitting his stride just in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Calgary will play four games in the first round between Monday and Sunday, March 19, giving Brodie added value for at least the first round of the playoffs.

Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes

Slavin is already Carolina's leader in average time on ice, but he has taken on an even larger role since veteran D Ron Hainsey was traded to Pittsburgh. In the nine games since his departure, Slavin is averaging 25:25 per game. He has contributed on both the offensive end and defensive end with five assists and 17 blocked shots.

Carolina has the most favorable playoff schedule, with five games coming in the first round, three games in the second round and five once again in the final round. Given his willingness to block shots, he is an ideal pickup in banger leagues.

Ryan Ellis, Predators

Nashville plays only three games this coming week, but Ellis has the ability to be as productive as either two of the previously mentioned players, despite fewer games. The Preds will also play five games during the fantasy finals, giving Ellis long-term value.

He has registered four goals and six assists in his last 13 games. Six of those 10 points have come on the power play. His Monday opponent will be the Winnipeg Jets, who have been shorthanded more than any team in the NHL and own the 28th-ranked penalty kill.

(Photos courtesy Action Images)

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a rough afternoon for Devan Dubnyk.

The Minnesota Wild netminder lasted just 4:38 into Sunday's matinee against the Chicago Blackhawks before being pulled after allowing two goals on as many shots.

Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin picked up the tallies for the Blackhawks.

Darcy Kuemper stepped into the game in relief of Dubnyk, whose league-leading .932 save percentage no doubt took a hit.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will go before the NHL's department of player safety following a charge on Kevin Gravel of the Los Angeles Kings.

The play occurred in the Kings' 4-2 win over the Capitals on Saturday.

A quick resolution will be needed from the NHL, with the Capitals set to play the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

The Capitals acquired Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues at this year's trade deadline.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Sunday, March 12 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• C Joe Thornton (44K) & D Brent Burns (74K), Sharks (vs. Stars): Burns leads the Sharks in both goals and assists. Thornton has declined this year, but he is still capable of a multi-assist outing. His low salary allows you to roster Burns and still submit a formidable lineup. Dallas has the second-highest xGA60 (expected goals against per 60 minutes) in the NHL.

• C Derek Stepan (52K) & LW Chris Kreider (46K), Rangers (at Red Wings): Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek has allowed three or more goals in four straight games. Kreider has three goals in his last four games. If he can pot another, Stepan will more than likely notch the assist. They play together at 5v5 and on the top power play.

• C Ryan Kesler (52K) & RW Jakob Silfverberg (51K), Ducks (vs. Capitals): This duo likely won't have a high ownership given the dominance of the Capitals. However, the Caps have lost back-to-back games by a score of 8-4 on this treacherous California road trip and will be playing their second game in as many nights. Kesler provides much better value than teammate C Ryan Getzlaf.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Bargain Plays

• G Braden Holtby (75K), Capitals (at Ducks): Holtby at 75K is highway robbery. He leads the league with eight shutouts and a 1.97 GAA. Even in a tough matchup, he is a no-brainer.

• RW Jannik Hansen (33K), Sharks (vs. Stars): Hansen is playing on San Jose's first line with Joe Pavelski and Thornton. He has picked up an assist in two games since joining the Sharks. Against Dallas' goaltending, he could easily pot his first goal with his new team.

• LW Philip Danault (25K), Canadiens (at Oilers): Danault centers Montreal's top line with LW Max Pacioretty and C Andrew Shaw and is a member of their top power-play unit. He hasn't produced much lately, but at 25K, the value is tough to pass up if you need some cap relief.

(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

Top Fades

• Dallas' goaltender: Whether Kari is Lehtonen goals, or Niemi continues to be strongly Antti-saves, Dallas' starting goaltender needs to be faded.

• C Tomas Hertl (53K), Sharks (vs. Stars): It doesn't make much sense for Hertl to be more expensive than both Thornton and C Logan Couture. He has gone without a point in four straight games.

• RW Brendan Gallagher (60K), Canadiens (at Oilers): Gallagher has just one point in 11 games since returning from injury. Dating back to Dec. 12, he has just two points in 22 games. Does this sound like a player worthy of 60K? I don't think so.

(Photo courtesy Action Images)

Contrarian Options

• C Ryan Getzlaf (76K), Ducks (vs. Capitals): Getzlaf at 76K against the Caps may seem absurd, but he does have 11 points in nine games. He has three multi-point games in the span and could come up with a fourth against a tired team.

• G Aaron Dell (92K), Sharks (vs. Stars): Not many will want to fork up 92K for a backup goalie against a high-powered offense, but Dell has been fantastic this year. He is 9-3-1 with a 1.88 GAA and a .935 SV%.

• RW Rick Nash (50K), Rangers (at Red Wings): Nash is questionable, but it sounds like he will play. Be sure to check if he's officially active before rostering. His ownership will be low but the veteran goal-scorer is handed a great matchup.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get excited.

While a playoff position is not yet clinched, the Columbus Blue Jackets are all but a shoo-in to qualify for this year's postseason. Stanley Cup fever has already hit downtown Columbus:

It will mark the Blue Jackets' first trip to the playoffs since 2014 and just the third postseason berth in franchise history. Columbus joined the NHL in 2000.

The Blue Jackets have been one of the league's hottest teams this season and own the East's third-best record with 92 points through 67 games.

Earlier this season, the Blue Jackets ran a 16-game win streak, one victory shy of the NHL record set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1993.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Carl Hagelin will be out of the lineup for at least four weeks with a lower-body injury, coach Mike Sullivan announced.

Hagelin suffered the injury Friday versus the Edmonton Oilers. He was not in the lineup Saturday when the Penguins faced the Vancouver Canucks.

Hagelin has six goals and 16 assists in 61 games this season.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.

Saturday night was all right for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not only did the club secure a 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes, but the victory also boosted Toronto's postseason odds by 9.1 percent.

Here are the notable playoff swings after Saturday's 11 games:

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

To see percentages for each team in the league, visit Sports Club Stats.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.