Egor Chinakhov earns new deal with Penguins due to breakout play

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Egor Chinakhov. Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Egor Chinakhov earns new deal with Penguins due to breakout play

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 6, 2026 12:23 PM ET

In blending a desire to win and sustain success for the future, the Pittsburgh Penguins made sure to retain one of their surprising key contributors from the 2025-26 season.

The Penguins locked up right winger Egor Chinakhov with a new three-year contract, as announced by the team on Sunday.

Now signed through the 2028-29 season, Chinakhov, 25, agreed to stay in Pittsburgh for an average annual salary of $6.25 million and a total deal worth up to $18.75 million.

Egor Chinakhov earned a new contract due to his strong play with the Penguins

Pittsburgh's president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas decided to invest in Chinakhov after his breakout campaign helped the Penguins exceed expectations and make the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

Acquired by the Penguins in a midseason trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chinakhov took his game to another level with Pittsburgh. His production with the Penguins would've set full season career-highs in goals and total points on its own.

The Penguins have signed forward Egor Chinakhov to a three-year contract.

Details: https://t.co/5LjGx6Ky7T pic.twitter.com/kTnJ8rCoiv
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 5, 2026

Egor Chinakhov took his game to another level after being traded to Penguins

He scored 18 goals and added 18 assists for 36 points as a +2 in 43 games with the Penguins. Overall in 72 games split between the Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh, Chinakhov tallied 21 goals and put up 42 points.

Prior to 2025-26, Chinakhov's best season came in 2023-24 when he netted 16 goals and registered 29 points while playing in 53 games.

The sky now appears to be the limit for the 25-year-old Russian native who will learn from legends like Sidney Crosby and even his fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin, brought back for one more year earlier in the offseason. And if Chinakhov keeps progressing, it's also possible Dubas may have a member of the Penguins' future core on a bargain rate.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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