The Pittsburgh Penguins have made an exciting trade, bringing in forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets. In return, they send Danton Heinen along with a second-round pick for 2026 and a third-round pick for 2027. This move was confirmed by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
Chinakhov, who is 24, has signed a contract worth an average of $2.1 million per year, lasting until the end of the 2025-26 season. He has spent his entire professional career with the Blue Jackets, playing in 204 NHL games and earning 37 goals and 40 assists, totaling 77 points. This season, he secured six points—three goals and three assists—in 29 games.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 203 pounds, Chinakhov has also showcased his skills in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, where he has played 11 regular-season games, scoring seven goals and adding six assists, for a total of 13 points. Before his time in North America, he played in Russia’s KHL with Avangard Omsk, where he made headlines by becoming the league’s rookie of the year after scoring 17 points in just 32 games.
Chinakhov has represented Russia internationally, participating in the 2021 World Junior Championship and the 2019 World Under-18 Championship, where he helped secure a silver medal. He was originally drafted 21st overall by Columbus in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
This trade also highlights Pittsburgh’s strategic future planning. The team now holds an impressive 34 draft picks over the next four NHL drafts, including 19 selections in the first three rounds. This positions them well for acquiring new talent and shaping their roster moving forward.
In today’s NHL climate, where trades and draft picks can significantly alter a team’s trajectory, this acquisition of Chinakhov may prove to be a valuable investment. As the Penguins continue to build for the future, fans can look forward to seeing how this young talent contributes on the ice.
