Blue Jackets’ Yegor Chinakhov says he wants trade

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Tyler Kuehl | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 11:44 AM ET

A former prospect is apparently seeking a new home.

In an interview with Russian media outlet Sport-Express, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov was asked about his contract status with the team. The 24-year-old is heading into the final year of his contract, a two-year deal with a cap hit of $2.1 million, and is set to be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

While Chinakhov didn’t reveal any details, he mentioned that he wasn’t seeing eye-to-eye with head coach Dean Evason. While Chinakhov missed time during the 2024-25 season due to what was ultimately revealed as a back injury, he was also a healthy scratch a few times near the end of the regular season. The Omsk native was limited to just 30 games, tied for the fewest appearances in a single season in his NHL career. He scored seven goals and eight assists for 15 points.

In a post on X, it was made clear that Chinakhov would welcome a trade.

Yegor Chinakhov:
I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location.
Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/DQ1qU2oHFb
— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025

“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now, I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location,” Chinakhov said, per his agent Shumi Babaev on X. “Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here.”

Chinakhov’s intentions clearly state that he would rather stay in the NHL, rather than return to Russia and potentially join the Kontinental Hockey League. However, last season has apparently left a sour taste in his mouth. So much so that a new destination would be welcomed by the former first-round pick.

In four seasons, Chinakhov has played in 175 games, scoring 34 goals and 37 assists for 71 points. His best performance came in 2023-24, when he recorded 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in just 53 games.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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