Egor Chinakhov’s Departure from the Blue Jackets
Egor Chinakhov’s stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets has concluded under circumstances that neither he nor the team desired. Following a trade request initiated during the offseason, the 24-year-old winger made the transition to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 29. The move arose amid a backdrop of speculation regarding Chinakhov’s intention to leave Columbus, which some attributed to a breakdown in his relationship with the former head coach, Dean Evason.
Coaching Changes and Player Reactions
In a turn of events, Evason was dismissed from his coaching role on January 12 and succeeded by Rick Bowness. When Chinakhov was questioned about the coaching change shortly thereafter, he expressed indifference:
“I just saw the news, and I texted the guys and how they think about it. And, I mean, I’m not surprised,”
he remarked.
Public Trade Request and Management Response
The discord between Chinakhov and Evason became publicly evident on July 17 when both the player and his agent, Shumi Babaev, made a formal request for a trade via social media. Chinakhov stated:
“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here,”
During that announcement.
The Blue Jackets management was reportedly displeased with how the situation unfolded in public. General Manager Don Waddell expressed surprise at the agent’s decision to disclose the trade request, commenting to The Athletic,
“He got back [from a back injury in 2024-25] and didn’t play well…he couldn’t handle that.”
Impact with the Penguins
Since joining the Penguins in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, as well as a second-round draft pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027, Chinakhov has made an immediate impact, scoring three goals and totaling four points in just eight games. He has been positioned mostly on the second line alongside seasoned forward Evgeni Malkin.
