Are Yegor Chinakhov's days as a Columbus Blue Jacket numbered?
In a post to X on Thursday morning, Shumi Babaev, the agent for Chinakhov, says that the 24-year-old forward would like to be traded.
"I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season," says Chinakhov, through Babaev. "Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location."
Yegor Chinakhov:
— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025
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 @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/DQ1qU2oHFb
Chinakhov missed significant time this season with a back injury and played in just 30 games for the campaign. In his first 21 games, Chinakhov had seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. After returning from the injury in March, he had just one point in nine games and was a healthy scratch under head coach Dean Evason multiple times.
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic confirmed that the Blue Jackets are aware of the trade request, but that they'll only move him if they get "an acceptable offer."
In a follow-up post, Babaev wrote that "if Yegor's request for a trade does not materialize, he will continue to give 120 percent in fulfilling his responsibilities."
In this situation, the players opinion is the most important to me. However, we are fully aware that there is an active contract in place, and if Yegors request for a trade does not materialize, he will continue to give 120 percent in fulfilling his responsibilities.
— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025
In another post, Babaev wrote that he is "in close and productive communication with the Columbus management,", adding that he is "grateful to the CBJ leadership for their cooperation and understanding."
A surprise first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Chinakhov has 34 goals and 37 assists (71 points) in 175 career NHL games. But durability has been a concern, with Chinakhov playing in just 30 games in the 2022-23 season, 53 games during the 2023-24 campaign, and the aforementioned 30 games this past season.
A request to Babaev for comment was not immediately returned.
