As an NHL analyst, I see this scenario all the time. A young player with offensive upside gets caught in a team’s transitional phase. Let’s look at the hard facts, as laid out by insider Aaron Portzline. The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t moving Kirill Marchenko or Dmitri Voronkov from the top line. That’s the team’s future. The second line? Boone Jenner and Kent Johnson are locks.
This is where it gets tough for Chinakhov. The third-line roles are filled by Cole Sillinger and Mathieu Joseph. Why them? Because they bring a crucial element Chinakhov doesn’t: elite penalty-killing. In today’s NHL, a coach trusts players who can handle special teams. That versatility gives them the edge, leaving Chinakhov—a pure offensive talent—stapled to the fourth line. He’s become a luxury item the Blue Jackets can’t afford to just sit. It’s a waste of an asset, and it’s tanking his trade value the longer he plays 9:00 minutes a night.
Potential Suitors: Where Do the Rangers and Flames Fit In?
So, where does he go? The Jackets’ preference for a player-for-player deal that addresses their “immediate needs” complicates things. They don’t want draft picks; they want someone who can help them now.
This is why the two teams Portzline floated—the New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames—make perfect sense. The Rangers are desperate for secondary scoring depth on the wing. Their top-six is elite, but their bottom-six has been a black hole. Chinakhov could slot in perfectly and get the offensive looks he’s craving. The Flames are in a full-blown identity crisis. They need young, cost-controlled assets with high upside as they retool.
The stalemate can’t last. A trade is inevitable. As struggling teams like the Rangers or Flames get more desperate for a spark, the price for a motivated Yegor Chinakhov will start to look very reasonable.
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