3 Return Blue Jackets Should be Looking for in Yegor Chinakhov Trade – Hockey Writer – Columbus Blue Jacket
Yegor Chinakhov asked for a deal from Columbus blue jacket on Thursday morning. The request was made public by his agent Shumi Babaev in an article on X (formerly Twitter) and later confirmed by General Manager (GM) Don Waddell in a conversation with Aaron Portzline sports.
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In the post, Babayev directly quoted chinakhov:
“I had some misunderstandings about coaches during the season. Now I’m glad I have a deal. I want to move to another location. Will I go back to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I’ll develop here.”
Wadell told Portzline sports (Excerpt from ‘Yegor Chinakhov demands trade from blue jackets, citing “Misunderstanding” with coach Dean Evason’ – The Athletic, 7/17/2025). He signed a two-year, $4.2 million extension on June 21, 2024, with an average annual value of $2.1 million to 2025-26 and will become a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the deal.
The damage is a recurring problem of Chinakhov. He was limited to 30 games last season, and he missed 39 games due to backing issues caused by multiple setbacks. He returned in March and played nine games in the game, but eventually got scratched late in the season, a common theme in his Columbus era.
He has had injuries every season since his NHL debut, which makes it difficult for him to find any rhythm.
When you are healthy, Chinakhov does bring some value. His shots are huge and can work on a second power play unit with his dangerous one. However, for the 2020 first-round pick, the total returns are incredible. He struggled to commit a consistent offense and did not make progress in his two-way game, struggling a lot in the post-check.
At this point, a new start is the best choice for everyone involved. However, if the trade market cannot meet Waddell’s preferences, please do not rule out Chinakhov staying in Columbus. It won’t be a giveaway deal; it has to be the right match or Columbus might just keep him right now. This will bring an interesting storyline to the bootcamp.
Now, here are three trade candidates that may make sense:
Nicholas Robertson (Toronto Maple Leaf)
Nicholas Robertson is one of many names for floating, which actually makes sense to both sides.
The recent Dakota Joshua acquired Maple Leafs for about $2.08 million in blocking space and can take a shot at Chinakhov, who obviously wants to go out and still has potential. He has legitimate NHL shots and maybe some strong value. If he can stay healthy, there are benefits there.
Robertson was on a similar ship. He showed a flash, a strong release like Chinakhov, but hasn’t quite made it in Toronto. He had trouble with injuries in the past and was not always in trouble. However, he has been healthy since the 2023-24 season, unlike Chinakhov.
Over the past two seasons, Robertson has scored 27 points in 56 games in 2023-24, followed by 22 points in 69 games in 2024-25. These are not huge numbers, but decent depth scores. He added two points to three playoff games last spring, a valuable experience for Columbus, a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2020. He has the skills, but he hasn’t had enough chances at the NHL level.
In Columbus, Robertson could land on the fourth line to start, but there is room for a climbing lineup. He is age-appropriate and will probably get more belts than Toronto.
From Columbus’ side, Wardle might want not only Robertson, but Chinakov, especially, to show the top 9 potential when healthy. Columbus’ third or fourth round pick or prospect can also be resolved.
This is not a flashy trade, but it is a reality. Two people who can use the new starting point, two teams that may be willing to roll dice.
Jonatan Bergren (Detroit Red Wing)
Berggren is another person who can benefit from landscape changes. In fact, he was about a little younger with Chinakhov – and played a more complete two-way match. He is not a sniper like Chinakhov, but he is a clever organizer who can better fit Columbus’ bottom hexagonal character.
He won a bigger championship in January against Jackets, so Columbus fans may remember the name.
Berggren has been effective in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 2023-24, he scored 56 points in 53 games against Grand Rapids Griffins and added 10 points in nine playoff games. He also scored 6 points in 12 NHL games that season. Then in 2024-25, he fell into the Detroit roster more regularly, scoring 12 goals and 24 points in 75 games. He is not a top character, but he shows that he can play at the NHL level when playing a role.
He just signed a one-year contract for $1.825 million, a little lower than Chinakhov’s. Such transactions may be directly swap without any upper limit issues.
Berggren is not as good as chinakhov, but he may be the safer bet for the bottom six characters. He makes smart dramas, offensive chips, doesn’t take a lot of risk, and is a tough trailer that Columbus can certainly use.
From Detroit, GM Steve Yzerman can shoot in the first nine ascending spaces of Chinakhov. If he stays healthy, he will bring more threats to score. Plus, it will be an interesting division trade between the two teams, and both teams can use some changes. There is nothing flashy, but both sides can solve it.
One thing I can see is that Waddell wants more backs, maybe a mid-leg draft pick. Chinakhov still has the first round pedigree and a lot of upside space, so it may not be one-on-one clean.
Either way, this is a possible move that makes sense to both sides.
Philip Thomasino (Pittsburgh Penguin)
This is not the name flying around in trade rumors, but Penguin has been one of the teams associated with Chinakhov recently. They are a little rebuilding now and can take risks with players with upside. Chinakhov is suitable for this mold, and Tomasino may be meaningful rewards. In addition, Tomasino and Chinakhov are both previous late-stage first-round draft picks, and they have not been completely eliminated.
Tomasino hasn’t completely ruined in the NHL yet, but there’s a lot to like about his game. He plays the center and wings, which will be a nice push for Columbus’ depth and is more rhythm and edge than Chinakhov. He was a tough trainer, rechecked and then went to the area where Chinakhov struggled.
Tomasino also played in Pittsburgh’s second Powerball unit and showed that he could contribute in the role, and chinakhov didn’t do it consistently in Columbus.
Statistically, Tomasino started last season as the Nashville Predators, but not many there, with only 11 assists. After landing in Pittsburgh, he played 50 games, scoring 11 goals and 23 points. Not a striking number, but respectable. Currently, his $1.75 million deal lasts until the end of the season, the same salary as Chinakhov’s $2.1 million, so for two teams with enough cap space, the frontline of the contract is good.
Given their two upstream spaces, I can actually see that this is a one-to-one exchange. If done, this is a deal that both parties can operate well.
There is always a chance to get together, and Chinakhov is still wearing a blue jacket this season. But if a deal does happen, then for Columbus, these are the three most meaningful rewards.
