The Penguins have acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Blue Jackets today. Heading back to the CBJ are veteran forward Danton Heinen, along with a second-round pick in the 2026 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in ’27.
A former first-round pick (21st overall) of the Jackets in 2020, the 24-year-old Chinakhov is a left-handed shooting right wing of some pedigree. Decent size at 6’1” 203. Not a heavy player by any stretch, the Omsk native doesn’t avoid contact, either, averaging about a hit per game.
He possesses an excellent shot and a finisher’s touch, along with good puck skills, vision and positioning. As for his skating? I’ve read mixed reviews. Some say he’s got a good, straight-line burst. However, he isn’t necessarily regarded as a play driver.
Chinakhov enjoyed his best season in 2023-24, tallying 16 goals and 29 points for the CBJ in 53 games, a 25-goal pace over a full season. Injuries limited to 30 games last season, but he still notched seven goals and 15 points in 30 games. Roughly a 20-goal, 40-point clip.
This season’s been a different story. Chinakhov’s managed just three goals and six points in 29 games.
To sum up, he sounds an awful lot like Philip Tomasino and Tommy Novak, other Kyle Dubas acquisitions who flashed at other stops but have yet to fully emerge. Right down to Chinakhov’s impressive WAR chart a la Novak.
For now, it’ll be interesting to see where he slots in. Just a guess, but Ville Koivunen (a goal and four points in 25 games) could be headed back to the Baby Pens for additional seasoning.
An RFA-to-be, Chinakhov’s under contract through the end of the season at $2.1 million. Ample time for him to show his wares.
Let’s hope he’s not the second coming of another CBJ import, Emil Bemström, who possessed similar attributes right down to a heavy shot, but failed to gain traction here.
Still, Chinakhov’s certainly worth a roll of the dice.
Hey Rick,
One could argue that Chinakhov’s limited success at the NHL level is more of a testament to how bad an organization Columbus has become. Of course, the same could be said for the lack of success the prospect Chinakhov will probably be replacing, Koivunen, has had this season.
My first thought when I heard that this trade was in the works was, “is this a steppingstone for a larger trade of a more veteran player a player you could trade for a higher draft pick?” Chinakhov has been projected as a top 6. Asking him to prove himself in a middle to bottom 6 role doesn’t make sense to me, but I can see the powers that be playing that game.
As I have written many times, Top, Middle, and Bottom 6 all have different roles to play, roles that require specific skills sets, skill sets that not every player has. There are precious few players that really are truly utility players, able to slide up and down the lineup with any level of comfort.
If Koivunen does end up being the odd man out, that will be disturbing. Not so much that I feel he deserves a better look, but because losing him from any real roster spots condemns Dubas even further for his mishandling of Guentzel. With Ponomarev already abandoning Dubas’ Titanic for the KHL and Cruz Lucius still playing NCAA hockey and last I looked, although having a decent season so far, still rather slow of foot, it is appearing more and more that Dubas just gave Jake away. (very poor asset management)
Hey all,
It appears the Pens will send Ryan Graves (if he clears waivers) to the Baby Pens and not Koivunen as I’d anticipated.
Not sure how much it benefits Ville to sit out or play on a rotational basis. But that appears to be the plan for now.
Rick