Yegor Chinakhov describe his current situation with the Blue Jackets by using a Russian proverb.

“Sometimes you have, like, a black line,” he said Oct. 15 at Nationwide Arena. “In Russia, it’s kind of like (when) something is not going how you want, it’s kind of a black line. It changes to black.”

More: Yegor Chinakhov out to prove himself at Columbus Blue Jackets training camp

The saying stems from life being like a zebra’s stripes.

There are ups and downs, white lines and black, and Chinakhov’s season is currently the color of night. After requesting a trade in the summer due to limited usage after a lengthy back injury last season, he showed up for training camp looking to earn a lineup spot.

Rumors about trade interest from the Edmonton Oilers arose briefly, but nothing materialized. Meanwhile, Chinakhov’s hope of landing a lineup role with three points (one goal, two assists) in four preseason games fell short. He was as a healthy scratch for the first three games, watching the Blue Jackets scuffle to a 1-2-0 start while the line in his mind’s eye darkened.

“It’s tough, but I try,” he said, “and my wife helps me, so that’s good. She keeps me safe (from anger).” 

Zlata, whom he married in 2024, is one of the few people who can make him laugh right now. She does it daily and it has helped Chinakhov stay focused amid his disappointment. Now, following an ugly facial injury that has sidelined forward Miles Wood, an opportunity has arrived for Chinakhov to make his season debut Oct. 16 against the Colorado Avalanche.

Wood will be out at least a week, if not longer, so Chinakhov could get a few games in a row to keep stating his case. The challenge for Evason and his assistants is finding a role best suited for a forward with the raw tools to be a top six winger.

Every role on the Blue Jackets’ top two lines is occupied, and that’s applicable to the third lin too. That leaves the fourth line for Chinakhov, which is usually a defensive line that provides energy in short bursts through forechecking pressure. Fourth-line forwards often log 10 minutes per game or fewer, and tend to start shifts in the defensive zone.

That’s not exactly a perfect fit for Chinakhov, whose provides high scoring potential with a tantalizing combo of size, speed and a wrist shot that fires rockets. Still, he’ll take it. It beats not playing at all. 

“(You) just try to be your best on the ice,” Chinakhov said. “If you give me eight minutes, I need to play my best in (those) eight minutes, so that’s what I want to do.”

Can things still work out in Columbus for Chinakhov, whom the Blue Jackets’ selected 21st overall in 2020? 

“We’ll see,” he said. “I like the city, so I like it fine here. I like the team. We’re pretty close here, so we’ll see.”

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social