The Blue Jackets enter a new season with higher expectations, but still some unanswered questions. One of the biggest questions they have: who plays on the second line with Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson? Perhaps no player in the organization is better equipped to fill that role than Yegor Chinakhov.
It seems like we have been waiting for Yegor to break out for a long time. We have, in a way. He's entering his 5th NHL season, though with just 34 goals and 71 points spread across 175 games.
I'll preface that stat line with one important note: this isn't because of a lack of skill, or a missing work ethic. He's one of the fastest skaters and hardest shooters in the NHL. He's also one of the hardest working players on the team.
The issue is, he has not been able to stay healthy. In each of his first four seasons in North America, he's missed significant time due to various injuries. Last season, a "week to week" upper body ailment turned out to be a nagging back injury that kept him out for more than half of the campaign.
That injury could not have come at a worse time. Yegor was off to a red hot start, with 7 goals and 14 points through 21 games when he went out of the lineup. By the time he recovered and got back to playing, the team was deep into a battle for a playoff spot, and he had missed too much time to step in and be effective. As a result, he finished the season as a healthy scratch.
Another year, another trade request.
As we might have expected, that led to another trade request from the talented Russian winger. A request that has gone yet unfilled, and it makes sense because they shouldn't trade him just to honor that request.
This team is ready to turn the corner and start competing at a higher level. They aren't in a position to trade away a talented, young former first round pick. Not yet. The best solution to their second line vacancy is to fill it from within.
That means they need a healthy, motivated Yegor Chinakhov to start this season. The good news is: he came to camp ahead of schedule, ready to get to work, and had a meeting to clear the air with head coach Dean Evason. Per reports, the two are getting along quite well since that meeting.
"I don't feel any negativity towards him (Yegor Chinakhov). He just needs to play well."Dean Evason
Making things work would be the best possible outcome for both sides. Trading Yegor now would be selling low on an extremely talented asset. The Jackets would still need someone to play on their second line.
From the player's perspective, he hasn't yet proven anything. Would a change to a new environment really be worth it, if he has to go in and find his game quickly? I'm not so sure. It will be easier to get to his game quickly with a team that he knows.
So, it's good news that Yegor is here, ready to get to work, and has started to rebuild his relationship with Evason. Even if this does eventually end in a split between the two sides, everyone involved needs to see Yegor have a big start to this season. Winning cures all, and this is the kind of player that the Jackets could use to help them win games.
One bold prediction: Yegor Chinakhov scores 30+ goals this season. All with the Blue Jackets.
I think this is going to work out for the Jackets this season. They are set up to have two very good scoring lines, and a third line that should be capable of producing some secondary offense.
Yegor Chinakhov is going to slot somewhere into the top-9 up front. He may even see some time on the top line with Kirill Marchenko and Sean Monahan, if Dmitri Voronkov doesn't come to camp in better shape. But, if he plays on that second line, or even the third line; there are better players surrounding him this year.
The talent on this roster means he can be used in a strictly scoring role. Maybe against secondary competition. He'll play on one of the power-play units, and with his ability to skate and shoot, 30 goals should be well within reach. Especially in a contract year, where he has a chance to cash in big. I'll bet on his talent and the willingness of both sides to come together and make this work.