Blue Jackets 2020 first-round pick (21st) Yegor Chinakhov may be in Columbus sooner than previously expected.
Per The Athletic, Chinakhov and his agent, Shumi Babayev, will "make a decision right after the last game". The 'last game' in question is imminent, perhaps as soon as Wednesday. Chinakhov's Avangard Omsk club is tied 2-2 with CSKA Moscow in the KHL's Gagarin Cup best-of-seven series. Game 5 is later today.
Asked whether he believed Chinakhov was ready to play in the NHL, Babayev responded, “100 percent ready.”
Per the initial report (translated via google translate), "it is reported that the term of the Blue Jackets' agreement with Chinakhov will be three years, it will be signed shortly."
The Blue Jackets have spent a fair bit of draft capital on Russian players in recent years. Should Chinakhov sign his ELC, he would join prospect Daniil Tarasov, who recently was added to the Blue Jackets taxi squad. In four games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, the 22-year old has posted a 3-1 record. Others, like Kirill Marchenko and Dmitry Voronkov, are expected to play in the KHL for at least one more season.
The 20-year old winger has 5-2-7 in 20 playoff games this season.
