Lucas has decreed that none of the big three can be shown dying, which has painted the EU into a corner, since Luke is already dead in the Legacy comics.
And yeah, Chewie's dead, but it was an editorial decision. Initially they intended to kill off one of the big three but Lucas nixed that and apparently selected Chewie.
And Kyle Katarn is alive and kicking, beard and all. He's the NJO's Battlemaster, basically their lightsaber trainer, and he's probably one of the top duelists of the era. He did almost get killed by Jacen though.
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Gamertag-Murphiroth
Pokemon Black-1978-9490-1161