Photo credit: Benjamin B. Braun/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (left) Dan Hamilton/IMGN (right)
Pittsburgh landed young forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, as GM Kyle Dubas swooped in before Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs could first.
On Monday afternoon it was announced that the Pittsburgh Penguins had acquired Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov in a package that included multiple draft picks.
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas is wasting no time in trying to see if he can be the next big young star who can grow alongside names like Rutger McGroarty and Ben Kindel.
The full trade also includes recently waived forward Danton Heinen as well:
The move ends the tenure of Chinakhov in Columbus, and one that has been dragged out for a long time. He’s been unhappy since reportedly 2023, and there were discussions he could be involved in a deal earlier this season.
For his career, Chinakhov has 77 points in 204 games (37 goals, 40 assists) but sporting a rough minus-48 rating in 13:38 TOI; he’s averaged under 11 minutes this season and has six points in 29 games (3 goals, 3 assists).
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They still could have had a shot at him this season by offering either Robertson as well as a sweetener, or they could have dangled Matias Maccelli and their 2026 third-round pick in order to get it done but Pittsburgh’s wealth of draft picks outbid Brad Treliving.
But now that’s a thing of the past and the team will need to shift focus to other names they can potentially acquire such as Andrew Mangiapane from Edmonton who is reportedly also on the trade block as he looks for a bigger role.
Coincidentally, the Blue Jackets’ game against Ottawa has been delayed due to travel issues, and while it’s certainly weather-related and not due to Chinakhov’s deal; it would be funny if they had to make a stop to drop him off elsewhere first.
It won’t take long for Chinakhov to see his old team, as Pittsburgh and Columbus play on January 4th.
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Kyle Dubas gets the jump on Brad Treliving as Penguins land Yegor Chinakhov
Will the Maple Leafs be the next team to make a trade?