The first two seasons in the NHL went okay for Yegor Chinakhov. He showed flashes of his talent but struggled for consistency on a nightly basis. He spent time both in Columbus and Cleveland to help develop his game.
He flourished in the AHL, but was still learning the NHL game. To make things more difficult, Yegor experienced multiple injuries that kept him out of the lineup. It was difficult for Chinakhov to establish himself as a reliable offensive weapon in the NHL as the CBJ had hoped.
This past season however, Chinakhov finally broke out and showed many that he can be a solid offensive weapon in the NHL. His wrist shot is elite, and he wasn’t afraid to use it.
Every time that the puck was on his stick in the offensive zone, the opposing team had to ensure that he didn’t have enough time and space to shoot the puck.
When other teams take notice of your shot, then that tells you how highly others think of your abilities. He was almost automatic when on a one-on-one with the goalie.
For Chinakhov, the 2023-2024 campaign solidified his role in the CBJ young core going forward.
Yegor Chinakhov, Kirill Marchenko, and Dmitri Voronkov comprised the Russian line for the CBJ this past season. The three worked well together, which seemed to elevate each player’s game.
Chinakhov was no exception. He was a threat every time he had the puck in the offensive zone. There is a good chance that this trio will be the second or third line for the CBJ next season.
When the CBJ selected Chinakhov 21st overall in 2021, a lot of hockey fans and experts were left scratching their heads. He was not high on a lot of draft boards and some people didn’t know who he was. At the time, it was a risky pick. But that pick is looking better and better after this season.
Chinakhov will be a restricted free agent this summer. He will definitely be signed by the team. The question will be whether his next contract will be a long-term contract or a short-term contract.
There are positives and negatives to both. They could look to lock him up long-term. That would likely lock him in at a lower AAV than if he had a bigger season next year. But what if he regresses or continues to get hurt?
On the other hand, the short-term deal could allow for more time for evaluation. However, as previously mentioned, Yegor could earn himself an even bigger contract should he play well over the next season or two.
Personally, I think the CBJ should sign him to a 6 or 7 year deal. That will get a decent AAV and have him don the union blue for years to come. But that will be a decision for the new general manager.
In his third NHL season, Chinakhov finally appeared to breakout and show what he is capable of. He showcased his incredible shot and offensive skill throughout most of the season. The only reason he doesn’t get anything higher than a B+ is because he missed 29 games due to injury.