The San Jose Sharks currently hold the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, and a slight change of plans could be in store at the NHL’s trade deadline.

While there are many players that the Sharks have been rumored to be open to moving by the March 6th deadline, they might also be conservative buyers. To be buyers at the deadline, the Sharks will need to be in a playoff spot or very close to one. GM Mike Grier will also need to do some contract-count maneuvering to acquire more.

According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Sharks could be the perfect candidate to land disgruntled Columbus Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov. While the insider reports no specific interest from a team, the match between the Sharks and the 24-year-old winger makes sense.

“When teams called earlier this year, I don’t think Columbus wanted just a draft pick for Chinakhov. They wanted a player. But now that they’ve spent a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick on Marchment, they might be OK recouping a second-round pick for the 2020 No. 21 pick,” LeBrun writes. “It just so happens the Sharks have two second-round picks this year, their own and the Colorado Avalanche’s.”

After CBJ acquired Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken, Chinakhov’s place in the lineup once again gets murky. Chinahkov had requested a trade before the season, but nothing has come of it. The Blue Jackets have played the Russian winger all around the lineup, from the top line to even a healthy scratch.

Pierre LeBrun: Yegor Chinakhov asked for a trade before the season and that request hasn’t gone anywhere – The Athletic (12/26)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) December 28, 2025

Chinakhov has played 23 games this season and has three goals and three assists. The San Jose Sharks are in desperate need of some winger help, and while Igor Chernyshov has brought some impact quickly, adding a skilled 24-year-old might be just what the doctor ordered for the Sharks.

Adding a player like Chinakhov to the Sharks’ lineup could be both an acquisition for the rebuild and a trade deadline add for a playoff push. While he hasn’t scored much this season, Chinahkhov has shown flashes. During the 2023-24 season, the Blue Jackets winger set career highs in goals (16), assists (13), and points (29) in 53 games played.

Whether it is injury or just roster management, Chinakhov hasn’t played a full season in the NHL. In his rookie year in 21-22, he played a career-high 63 games. There is still development to be done for Chinakhov, but the San Jose Sharks could be the exact fresh start he’s hoping for with his trade request.

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