Columbus Blue Jackets notes: Yegor Chinakhov not seeking trade or KHL return
Those concerned about Yegor Chinakhov becoming another Pierre-Luc Dubois can breathe a sigh of relief.
The Blue Jackets’ 2020 first-round pick (21st overall) isn’t looking to be traded or gain a loan agreement that would allow for his return to the Kontinental Hockey League.
“No, I just want to play,” Chinakhov said. “I like Columbus. I love the guys here. I love the fans. I like to be here.”
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The fact Chinakhov didn’t need a translator to express those thoughts is evidence of how far he’s come in his NHL development off the ice since arriving in 2021 from Omsk, Russia. Now, after overcoming multiple injuries, he’d like to make similar strides on the ice.
“Everybody wants the coach to trust him,” Chinakhov said. “You feel better on the ice. For me, I had a long injury (last season), I worked all summer to come back, then I come back and ... injured again. It was tough for my mentality a little bit, but I’m just trying to get better every day.”
Chinakhov’s agent told the Dispatch something different Monday, as his client became part of an NHL record for Russian players in the Jackets’ 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Chinakhov joined Dmitri Voronkov, Ivan Provorov and Kirill Marchenko as the only four Russian teammates to score in the same NHL game, but his frustrations with coach Pascal Vincent were said to be at a boiling point.
“He doesn’t feel they trust him, and he wants to leave,” agent Shumi Babaev said via text message. “They don’t understand how bad ‘Chinny’ feels.”
Chinakhov, who spoke with the Dispatch on Thursday, said his biggest source of frustration is struggling to meet his own expectations during his third NHL season. The breakaway goal that he scored against the Bruins was only his second of the season and he followed it with a third in the Jackets’ 4-2 loss Wednesday to the Montreal Canadiens.
“Scoring goals helps you have fun, and everybody wants to score,” Chinakhov said. “I want it too, but I need more. It gives you a little confidence and you do feel better.”
Chinakhov arrived in August 2021 hoping to parlay his success with Avangard Omsk, his hometown KHL club, into immediate NHL success in Columbus. A surprise pick at the spot he was chosen, Chinakhov hoped to show the Blue Jackets were wise to grab him that early.
He’d won the KHL’s “rookie of the year” honors in 2020-21, also helping Omsk and former NHL coach Bob Hartley to win the KHL’s Gagarin Cup title. Chinakhov then signed an NHL entry-level contract and headed to North America earlier than many drafted Russian prospects.
He and fellow rookie Cole Sillinger tore apart the 2021 Traverse City NHL Prospects Tournament as linemates, becoming good friends despite a language roadblock. They spent that year together, but Chinakhov didn’t complete it because of an injury. Last season, Chinakhov sustained a severe ankle injury in December and didn't play in the NHL again until this season.
He finished playing for the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League and began this year there after missing training camp with a back strain. It’s been a struggle to stay healthy and earn ice time, but Chinakhov is now flashing impressive skills.
“He’s still a young player, but physically, he’s a man and he’s using his size and strength,” Vincent said. “I know we see him as an offensive guy, but he’s very reliable defensively. I think eventually he could be a (penalty kill) guy, as well. When you add his game without the puck, his power and ability to create separation with his skating ability, I think that’s what we’re seeing right now.”
The Blue Jackets are seeing his beaming smile more too. There might not be a happier guy in the NHL after goals and his plan is to keep scoring them for the Blue Jackets.
Asked if he’s happy in Columbus, Chinakhov nodded.
“Yeah, I like the city,” he said. “I like the fans and my teammates here. I love it."
Columbus Blue Jackets to give Russian line a whirl
Going into a matchup Friday against the Ottawa Senators, Vincent had used 28 line combinations in the Jackets' first 24 games that played at least five minutes together.
One he hadn’t tried, until now, is an all-Russian mix of Chinakhov at left wing, Voronkov at center and Marchenko on the right. Those three skated together Thursday in practice and will start out playing together against the Senators, who will start former Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
All three are fired up, simply for the ease of communication. Chinakhov and Marchenko can speak English, which means they often translate for Voronkov, who doesn’t. Playing together allows them all to speak Russian during shifts that may look like a Russian national team line.
“I can speak (English) on the ice, but now I feel more confident,” Chinakhov said. “I can speak Russian. That’s easy for us, because when we talk on the ice, other guys don’t understand us. It’s easier, I think, but we’ll see. We’ll try to do our best in the game.”
Columbus Blue Jackets rookie Dmitri Voronkov to play center
Putting the all-Russian line together requires Voronkov to play center for the first time in the NHL, which Vincent is eager to see.
The massive rookie forward has been outstanding at left wing, racking up 11 points on four goals and seven assists, but he’s got untapped experience at center with the KHL's Ak Bars Kazan. Voronkov’s soft hands and vision are evidence that he’s played the position before, and his face-off winning percentage (38.1%) could improve once he learns how to utilize his 6-foot-5, 240-pound body at the dots.
“We know he’s played center in the past,” Vincent said. “We know he’s decent on faceoffs. Short sample here, but he practices (draws) after our practices. He’s such a smart player. I think it might work, so we’ll see.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets notebook: Chinakhov wants to stay, score more goals
