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The GMs fraternity in the NHL is a prototypical old boys club, populated by former players, coaches and managers. The average age of the other 30 GMs is 54; the oldest of the group, 74-year-old Lou Lamoriello, was hired into the league in 1987 before Chayka was even born.

Chayka hints that his age has been “an issue” in his first-year dealings as GM. It’s nothing malicious, he says, “but there is the reality that you are the youngest person in the room.”

Still, he contends that his unique viewpoint serves as a helpful counterbalance in trades with some of his fellow GMs because his wants and needs may differ from competitors.

“It’s an opportunity as much as a challenge to find fits that work for me, but also work on the other side of things, and that’s how transactions are made,” Chayka said. “I think it’s actually been pretty productive, even if it’s not as comfortable as someone who’s known someone for 20 years.”

Chayka didn’t know Wild GM Chuck Fletcher too well until completing a trade last month that satisfied needs for both sides — Arizona scooping up assets for the future, Minnesota adding Martin Hanzal for a potential Stanley Cup run.

Chayka is trying to build relationships as organically as possible with his peers. It’s why getting to know Yzerman is helpful not just for the inside scoop of how Olympic champions were built in 2010 and 2014 (along with the 2007 worlds), but for getting to know someone he’s likely to do business with at some point.