Penguins Trade Analysis: Chinakhov Fit and Fallout

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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas continued his Pound Puppy approach to this phase of the Penguins’ rebuild Monday, as the Penguins traded for a young player that numerous teams have sought over the past 12 months, but for whom none were willing to pay the price.

Monday, as the team wrapped practice at the UPMC Lemieux Complex, a day after wrapping a strong 7-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center, Dubas was wrapping up the latest Penguins trade: Yegor Chinakov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-round selection.

The Penguins also included Danton Heinen in the deal.

The Penguins still have more draft picks than they’d care to use over the next three years.

Chinakhov, 24, is in the second year of a two-year deal that carries a $2.1 million salary cap hit. He will be a restricted free agent at season’s end, which also gives the Penguins a measure of control, if they want it.

Chinakhov checks a couple of boxes for Dubas. First, he has played 204 NHL games, but is only 24 years old. If he fits with the Penguins, he could be around for quite some time. Second, he fits the mold of players who need a second chance and a team willing to put in the work with a well-invested Sports Science department to get the very best from them.

Dubas has been on a roll this season with free agent acquisitions Justin Brazeau and Parker Wotherspoon, who were otherwise buried deep on the depth charts of previous organizations, successfully claiming primary roles. Dubas also acquired goalie Arturs Silovs via offseason trade and goalie Stuart Skinner and defenseman Brett Kulak via trade with Edmonton earlier this month.

The book on Chinakhov begins with the common tale of a talented player who has not yet put up numbers worthy of his individual talent, who got frustrated with his role and head coach (Dean Evason), requested a trade that was denied, before eventually getting dealt.

Last season, he began to put up more offense, netting 15 points with eight goals in 30 games, but a back injury effectively wiped out most of his season. That’s also when his troubles with Evason began, as he was able to return later in the season but found himself as the odd man out.

Columbus selected Chinakhov 21st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has a sharp wrist shot, excellent skating that allows him to create separation from defensemen, and offensive instincts.

He has disappointed coaches with lackadaisical defensive play and play without the puck; the sort of stuff that separates successful wingers from those who grumble about second chances from the back of an AHL bus.

This season, Chinakhov has only six points, including three goals, in 29 games and is a minus-6 while averaging a meager 10:18 of ice time.

Analysis Points

**The deal is another moment of the Penguins having the right situation to give a player “runway” to find his real game or to wash out. Chinakhov is a lefty with skill, but also has enough size (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) to play in the dirty areas. Dubas would not acquire him without putting an ice-time plan in place with coach Dan Muse.

Chinakhov won’t be buried on the depth chart unless his play demands it.

**Chinakhov probably takes the lineup spot on The Kids Line of Ville Koivunen, who just hasn’t clicked this season. After an eye-popping eight-game debut at the end of last season, it seemed the sky was the limit for the fiesty, skilled Finnish winger. However, this season he has been inconsistent at best and invisible at worst.

With the stellar play of center Ben Kindel and Rutger McGroarty, Chinakhov would be a natural fit on The Kids Line, which has played well but has scarcely scored. It would be a solid starting point for Chinakhov to establish his bonafides with the Penguins and earn his way up the lineup.

McGroarty can play the right wing and Chinakhov the left. Coincidentally, PHN discussed the pros and cons of flipping sides with McGroarty Sunday morning. The stocky rookie with an intelligent two-way game likes the right side in the offensive zone, because he can quickly cut to the center, though wall work in the defensive zone is more challenging.

**The move sets up additional Penguins moves if it works. That’s a 36-point font on “if,” but Chinakhov could make other left-wings available. At the very least, Anthony Mantha, who is on a one-year contract but has outplayed his $2.5 million salary with 12 goals and 25 points in 37 games, could become more immediately expendable.

…Or eventually an even bigger deal involving bigger names.

Ultimately, nothing else needs to happen following the trade except some housekeeping to get under the 23-man roster limit. The Penguins are one over. It could be Koivunen whom the Penguins give a timeout in WBS, or another veteran who gets the unpleasant conversation.

If Chinakhov does not improve upon his Columbus performance, nothing else will happen, as the team and player will part via the Penguins’ refusal to offer a Qualifying Offer in June. But if he works, Dubas has options, and he has shown patience to let such processes play out.

The post Penguins Trade Analysis: Chinakhov Fit and Fallout appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

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