Disgruntled CBJ Winger a Perfect Target; Devils Trade Could Fill Need

Last week, the dirty laundry was aired between Columbus Blue Jackets forward, Yegor Chinakhov and the Columbus Blue Jackets. In short, the Russian winger wants out of Ohio. General manager Tom Fitzgerald shouldn’t hesitate at an attempt to reel in the winger in a New Jersey Devils trade.

READ MORE: Dougie Hamilton, Devils Trade Could Hinge on a Pair of Wild Cards

Shumi Babaev, Chinakhov’s agent, took to X to express his desire for a fresh start outside of Columbus.

The former first-round pick in 2020 started off 2024-25 on the first line with the Blue Jackets, skating alongside Sean Monahan and Dmitri Voronkov. The trio got off to an impressive start, until Chinakhov suffered a back injury that saw him miss 40 games.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports through Chinakhov’s agent, the player and team disagreed on how to handle the injury.

“In one hour, the doctors (in Moscow) fixed everything,” Babaev said. “It’s not a problem. It wasn’t surgery. It was like a shot, like you’d get at the dentist. It took 40 minutes. He visited a lot of doctors in the U.S., and they didn’t know how to fix it.

“Now he’s 100 percent healthy. I explained it to (Blue Jackets general manager) Don (Waddell) and he understands me.”

Chinakhov had a sour taste left in his mouth. He had to wait until the offseason to address the injury that continued to hamper him even after he was cleared to play. It caused him to see a diminished role on the fourth line of a talented, yet still rebuilding Columbus roster. Chinakhov is supposed to be one of the top players for the Blue Jackets in their prime.

As a result, the Russian winger feels a disconnect and a lack of trust with the organization.

Babaev told The Athletic he feels his client cannot return to Columbus, and it’s because of head coach, Dean Evason.

Thus, Chinakhov is the perfect buy-low candidate for the Devils.

I’m going to bang this drum again. Perhaps you’re sick of hearing it. Or, perhaps you’re in the drum line with me.

The Devils have yet to replace the services of Tyler Toffoli after they traded him to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

Losing a player like Toffoli who specializes in finding the back of the net is not easily replaced. Fitzgerald named Dawson Mercer as a candidate to perhaps fill that void one year ago. Yet, he’s looking more and more like New Jersey’s best option as a third-line center right now.

Chinakhov, however, can fill the void. Everything about the Russian winger fits the mold of the Devils. He’s an impressive 6-foot-1 forward, standing at 205-lbs, that was drafted as a dual offensive threat who can both play-make and score goals.

Chinakhov has yet to fully materialize at the NHL level. However, the player began to break out of his shell in the 2023-24 season, scoring 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games. That’s about a 25-goal pace in 82 games, and he did so on a much weaker Columbus team than last seasons.

Yet, his production dipped in 2024-25 to seven goals and 15 points for the aforementioned injury and demotion.

Chinakhov’s agent explained that he’s now 100% healthy and training hard in Russia for the 2025-26 season with no restrictions.

Chinakhov believes himself to be a top-six winger, and the Devils have the need for one on at left-wing. The Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt line was continually rounded out by Ondrej Palat last season, and is projected to do so again in its current state.

At just $2.1 million next season, the Devils can certainly afford to absorb the services of Chinakhov, and give him a chance to succeed in a high-speed, high-skill Devils system on a line with two of their best forwards.

There’s plenty of reason to believe Chinakov would acclimate well in New Jersey. For starters, Chinakhov’s agent also represents new Devils forward, Arseni Gritsyuk. Both at the age of 24 years old, Chinakhov immediately has familiarity in the locker room. Add the presence of Evgenii Dadonov, and now Chinakhov and Gritsyuk can develop under the wing of the veteran Russian winger who has seen his fair share of success in the NHL.

There’s plenty of speculation out there right now as to what the Devils might do moving forward. Most fans hope they’ll take a big swing at a player such as Jason Robertson or Jordan Kyrou who are no doubt top-six forwards. However, Chinakhov’s ceiling can certainly be that of a consistent 30-plus goalscorer, and there’s a belief that he doesn’t need more time to develop, but an opportunity to play in the right role while fully healthy.

Given the fact that the request is public, and Chinakhov does come with some medium risk that he doesn’t develop into what most believe he can, there’s no reason why he can’t be had for draft capitol alone.

Recently, the Utah Mammoth traded Matias Maccelli to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a conditional third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old Finnish forward has shown more consistency at the NHL level as opposed to Chinakhov. Yet, the Russian winger’s ceiling is perhaps higher.

It seems plausible that Chinakhov could be had for a similar price point. Perhaps his projected ceiling moves the pickup to a future second rounder.

Regardless, Fitzgerald should be knocking on Don Waddell’s door. A Devils trade for the Russian winger makes a ton of sense, and could certainly move the needle for New Jersey.

And if he doesn’t work out, he’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. The Devils can cut ties and let him walk, or perhaps trade his rights and regain capitol.

This seems like a no-brainer.

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By James Nichols

James is a fully credentialed New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the ... More about James Nichols