Penguins' Yegor Chinakhov: First goal in black and gold
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored a goal Saturday in a 4-1 win over Detroit.
It was Chinakhov's first goal for the Penguins after being acquired in a trade with the Blue Jackets on Monday, and his fourth of the season. He took a long pass to break in alone and slide the puck between John Gibson's pads. Chinakhov has an elite release and good puck skills, but he hasn't been able to establish himself yet. He has one goal and four shots in two games since the trade after putting up three goals, three assists and 36 shots in 29 games with the Blue Jackets.
... See More... See Less
Penguins' Yegor Chinakhov: Traded Monday
Rotowire
Chinakhov was acquired by Pittsburgh from Columbus on Monday in exchange for Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 third-round selection.
Chinakhov had three goals, six points, six PIM, 36 shots and 28 hits in 29 appearances with Columbus in 2025-26 before the trade. He was averaging just 10:18 of ice time, which was down from 15:43 during the 2024-25 regular season. Chinakhov should get a chance to play a bigger role in Pittsburgh, which might boost his offensive production. The 24-year-old set career highs during the 2023-24 regular season with 16 goals and 29 points in 53 outings, which is the kind of offensive pace Pittsburgh might get out of him if the Penguins prove to be a great fit.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Nets rare goal Saturday
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights.
Chinakhov ended a 19-game point drought with the tally. He was scratched just three times in that span, as the Blue Jackets have put him in a fourth-line role, likely to give other teams a look if they want to trade for the winger. The 24-year-old has a meager five points, 34 shots on net, 25 hits and a minus-6 rating over 26 appearances, though he had 29 points in 53 games in 2023-24 and may have more upside if he gets a change of scenery.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Two-point effort in OT win
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored a goal and added an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Sabres.
The 24-year-old winger opened the scoring early in the first period on a great individual effort. He forced a turnover deep in Buffalo's end on the forecheck, grabbed the loose puck and then out-waited Alex Lyon with a dangle before flipping a backhander past the sprawling netminder. Chinakhov remains exiled to Columbus' fourth line, a role that doesn't really fit his skill set, but he's making the best of it. In the last four contests, he's produced two goals and four points while averaging only 10:38 of ice time per game.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Pots first tally of season
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the Penguins.
The 24-year-old winger had a tumultuous offseason that included a trade request, and after being a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season, Chinakhov has mainly been stuck on the fourth line over the last five contests while averaging just 9:06 in ice time. He flashed his skill Saturday, however, ripping a quick shot past Arturs Silovs early in the third period to give the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead. It might take an injury ahead of him on the depth chart to move Chinakhov into a top-six role, but he has the upside to thrive if given a chance.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: First point since return
Rotowire
Chinakhov logged an assist in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Penguins.
This was Chinakhov's first point in eight contests since he returned from a 39-game absence due to an upper-body injury. He's gone minus-8 with 13 shots on net since his return, which also saw him scratched once due to poor performance. He's still nominally on the second line, but he saw just 12:07 of ice time Friday and hasn't exceeded 14:31 in any outing since he came off injured reserve. The 24-year-old winger is at 15 points, 68 shots on net, 47 hits and a minus-6 rating through 29 appearances this season. He's at risk of getting lost in the shuffle for the Blue Jackets, who will likely integrate more prospects for the 2025-26 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Returns after 39 games
Rotowire
Chinakhov (upper-body) was minus-2 with two shots in 13:25 in Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Lightning. He had missed 39 games to injury.
It will take Chinakhov some time to get back up to game speed. Prior to his injury, the young winger appeared to be taking a step forward -- he had seven goals and seven assists in his first 21 games. Chinakhov could give you a late-season boost if he can get his skates under him.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Practices Monday
Rotowire
Chinakhov (back) was a full participant in Monday's practice, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakhov could return from a 39-game absence against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. During Monday's session, he occupied a top-six role and could see time on the power play once given clearance to return to the lineup. Chinakhov has seven goals, 14 points, 32 hits and 55 shots on net in 21 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Begins skating Wednesday
Rotowire
Chinakhov (upper body) completed a solo skating session Wednesday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Chinakhov has been on the shelf for the last 11 contests due to his upper-body injury and seems unlikely to play in Thursday's matchup with New Jersey considering he has yet to practice with the team. Since Justin Danforth (lower body) is also sidelined, the Jackets will likely continue utilizing Mikael Pyyhtia and Kevin Labanc in fourth-line roles.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: On injured reserve
Rotowire
Chinakhov was moved to injured reserve Wednesday.
Chinakhov hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 27, so he's eligible to be activated whenever he's healthy. That said, Chinakhov hasn't resumed skating yet and isn't believed to be close to returning. He has seven goals and 14 points in 21 outings in 2024-25.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Not ready to return
Rotowire
Head coach Dean Evason said Tuesday that Chinakhov (upper body) is "progressing, for sure, but as far as I know he hasn't been on the ice yet. So he's not close to coming back yet," Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakov has missed the past six games due to the injury. The Russian winger was playing well before suffering the setback, as he scored in three of his last four appearances. Chinakhov will likely slot into a middle-six role once he's healthy.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Out of action Friday
Rotowire
Chinakhov (upper body) will be unavailable Friday versus Calgary, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakhov didn't miss any time versus Montreal on Wednesday, when he scored his third goal in the last four games. Chinakhov has seven goals, seven assists, 55 shots on goal and 32 hits in 21 appearances this season. Consider him day-to-day ahead of Sunday's tilt in Chicago. Cole Sillinger will return to the lineup, replacing Chinakhov.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Tickles twine in loss
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored a goal on one shot in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal.
Chinakhov showed impressive wheels when he blew past Jayden Struble and beat Cayden Primeau glove side. The tally was the 21-year-old's third over the last four outings and gave him seven for the season. The fourth-year forward experienced a season of growth in 2023-24, and the team is giving him more top-six minutes in 2024-25. Chinakhov is averaging nearly two more minutes of TOI (17:02) per game than he had last season (15:10).
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Logs helper in win
Rotowire
Chinakhov produced an assist in Monday's 6-1 win over the Oilers.
Chinakhov spent a couple of games on the second line without much success, but he was reunited with Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan on the top line Monday. Through eight outings, Chinakhov has three goals, five assists, three power-play points, 22 shots on net, 12 hits and a plus-5 rating. The Blue Jackets have been more productive than expected early on, and the 23-year-old's success on the top line is a noticeable part of that.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Chinakhov (lower body) will be in the lineup Saturday versus Minnesota, according to Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers.
Chinakhov was injured Tuesday, but he managed to play and score against the Sabres on Thursday before missing practice Friday. Chinakhov is off to a great start this season, scoring twice and adding four assists in four appearances.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Hopeful to play Saturday
Rotowire
Chinakhov didn't practice Friday due to a lower-body injury, but the team hopes he'll be able to play Saturday against the Wild, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakhov suffered his injury while blocking a shot during Tuesday's win over Buffalo, and he underwent precautionary X-rays on Friday. Despite his absence from practice Friday, the team is hopeful that he won't be forced to miss any game action due to the injury. Over his first four appearances of the season, he's recorded two goals and six points while averaging 18:44 of ice time.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Racks up three points in win
Rotowire
Chinakhov scored a goal on four shots, added two assists and went plus-2 in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Avalanche.
Chinakhov is up to four points, including two on the power play, over the first two games of the season. His chemistry with Sean Monahan has been instant, and it likely helps that Kirill Marchenko is also on the top line -- Chinakhov played alongside Marchenko frequently in 2023-24. Chinakhov likely won't be a point-per-game player this year, but he'll maintain decent fantasy value as long as he's on the top line.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Gearing up for season
Rotowire
Chinakhov is recovered from an upper-body injury and will be present for the start of training camp, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site Tuesday.
Chinakhov missed the final 17 contests of the 2023-24 regular season due to the injury. The 23-year-old appears to be well past that setback, and he also signed a two-year contract extension with Columbus this summer. Chinakhov should see power-play time while being firmly entrenched among the top-six forward group. The Russian winger has generated 56 points in 145 career outings as an NHLer.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Not playing Tuesday
Rotowire
Chinakhov (upper body) won't play Tuesday against Carolina, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Chinakhov will miss his 17th consecutive contest. He will conclude the 2023-24 campaign with 16 goals, 29 points, 110 shots on net and 43 hits in 53 games.
... See More... See Less
Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov: Out again Saturday
Rotowire
Chinakhov (upper body) won't play Saturday versus the Golden Knights, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Svoboda reports the Blue Jackets will deploy the same lineup they used in Colorado on Friday, meaning Chinakhov will miss his sixth straight game. His next chance to play is Tuesday in Arizona.
