Edmonton Oilers reportedly interested in acquiring Yegor Chinakhov

The Edmonton Oilers youth movement may continue to take over

After a seemingly conscious decision by the front office last season to build an old team, one that had regularly the oldest average age in the league, the Oilers appear to be trying to reverse course as much as they can to prolong their competitive window. With closer-to-NHL-ready signings like Quinn Hutson and Viljami Marjala, the team has been attempting to replenish their prospect pool without needing to rely on the draft. The addition of a player like Chinakhov would continue that trend, and bring in a player who is ready to play on the NHL roster today.

As a right wing, Chinakhov would have very little definite competition on the roster. Especially while Zach Hyman is still injured to start the season. Behind Hyman, the competitors would be players like Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard, two more prospects in similar positions, albeit with less experience than Chinakhov. Middle-six wingers like Andrew Mangiapane and Trent Frederic, both of whom are not specifically right wingers and often play other forward positions. And depth options like Kasperi Kapanen. The Oilers often have a highly versatile forward group with players who regularly jump up and down the lineup and play multiple positions, so the possible configurations are endless.

But with a neverending quest to find a scoring winger to play with Leon Draisaitl, there may end up being a fit here. Chinakhov is often praised for his top notch offensive instincts and blistering shot. Both of which are traits that would fit extremely well with Draisaitl.

The biggest question is whether or not there would actually be room for this move without pushing other players out, and having too many of the same or similar player type in the roster at once.

Is Yegor Chinakhov a realistic option for the Edmonton Oilers?

The above tweet came just one day after Chinakhov was quoted at Blue Jackets training camp as being happy to stay in Columbus and that everyone is on the same page moving forward. So the validity of the story is immediately in question to begin with. We do not know what the player is actually thinking, as making a comment like Chinakhov did to cool the waters is a reasonable PR tactic to stop the story. Other things may be happening behind the scenes.

The acquisition cost, as always, would be difficult for Edmonton. But with Chinakhov being a late first-round pick five years ago who has yet to truly break out in the NHL, they may be able to get away with a package revolving around a second-round pick and a mid-level prospect. Chinakhov’s $2.1M cap hit this season would not be particularly difficult to fit in, especially if a player like Mattias Janmark is included in the trade to free up a bit of cap space.

Overall, the player and situation seem to be something the Oilers would capitalize on right now and that makes it a realistic option. A hopeful buy-low player with plenty of upside on a cost-controlled deal for the season. Chinakhov would help to further a bit of a youth movement in Edmonton and provide another scoring option to try out in the top-six. This probably is not a situation we should expect to hear more on, considering the player did publicly quash any further trade talk around him, but if the season starts slow for Chinakhov, it could be something to revisit closer to the deadline.