Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Chinakhov

The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly acquiring forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for draft picks. This season, the 24-year-old has recorded six points in 29 games, including three goals and three assists; he’s a minus-six. Reports earlier indicated that Columbus wanted a player back in exchange for Chinakhov, but after acquiring Mason Marchment from the Kraken for a draft pick, their return changed. Chinakhov is a restricted free agent at the conclusion of this season. He brings in a $2.1 million AAV for the remainder of this season.

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Yegor Chinahkov

The Blue Jackets drafted him 21st overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Before joining the Blue Jackets, he played in the KHL with Avangard Omsk where in 32 games he had 17 points on ten and seven assists; he was a minus-two. In 21 playoff games, he had seven points on five goals and two assists; he was a plus-one. He played in five games in the World Juniors for Russia, scoring just one goal; he finished with a minus-two.

Blue Jackets Tenure

In his first season in 2021-22, he played in one game for Columbus’s AHL affiliate in Cleveland, scoring a goal. In 62 games for the Blue Jackets, he had 14 points on seven goals and seven assists. He was a -27 with a power-play goal and a game-winning goal. In 2022-23, he played in 30 games for Columbus, recording 13 points on four goals and nine assists. He was a minus-six with a power-play goal. Chinakhov appeared in seven games for Cleveland recoridng eight points on three goals and five assists. He was a plus-four with three power-play goals.

In 2023-24 he played in three games for the Monsters, recording four points on three goals and an assist. He was even in plus/minus with three power-play goals. In 53 games for the Blue Jackets, he had a career high of 29 points on 16 goals and 13 assists. He was a minus-three with a power-play goal and three game-winning goals. Last season, in 30 games with Columbus, he had 15 points on seven goals and eight assists. He was a minus-six with two power-play goals and a game-winning goal.

Career

In 11 career AHL games, he has 13 points on seven goals and six assists. He was a plus-four with six power-play goals. In 204 career NHL games, he has 77 points on 37 goals and 40 assists. He’s a -48 with five power-play goals and five game-winning goals.

Wrap Up

Columbus and Chinakhov coming to an end may work out well for both teams. Columbus has a few young pieces they have brought up this season from the AHL that have fit in well in the lineup and can fill that spot. For Chinakhov, he gets a change of scenery and a chance to rejuvenate his career, and he’ll get to do so with Sidney Crosby and other veterans who are on the Penguins roster. Chinakhov might be a solid piece for Pittsburgh if he can find his way into their bottom six.