The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a tumultuous begin to the common season – to say the least. Their ahead corps has been riddled with accidents. First with the lack of their captain Boone Jenner for a important period of time. Additionally out of the image for the subsequent month is Dmitri Voronkov, the Russian sophomore that confirmed flashes of brilliance final season. They’ve wanted to lean on their youthful gamers to take the subsequent step to see any signal of enchancment within the standings.

A kind of kids is Yegor Chinakhov and at 23 years previous he leads the Blue Jackets in scoring by 5 video games. There was an inkling that he was able to doing this, however he’s persevering with the breakout he began final season. Whereas consistency over an 82-game season nonetheless must be confirmed, he has a lot uncooked expertise and generally is a big a part of this group’s future.

From Draft Obscurity to the Blue Jackets’ Prime Line

It appears like simply yesterday – or I’m simply actually previous – when then-Blue Jackets common supervisor Jarmo Kekalainen broke the web in the course of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Chinakhov wasn’t listed on many draft boards of members within the media, particularly not at twenty first general. That was evident within the ten seconds of silence from draft pundits on the printed after he was picked whereas they scrambled to seek out their notes on the Russian.

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Chinakhov had spent the season with the junior farm group for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). His 69 factors in 53 video games have been ok to complete fifth in league scoring. He and linemate Arseni Gritsyuk have been far and away the best on the squad. As an apart – Gritsyuk, who’s a prospect for the New Jersey Devils, has gone on to important success with Omsk and is at present fifth in KHL scoring as a member of SKA St. Petersburg (the New York Yankees of the league).

After being drafted, Chinakhov was promoted to the massive membership in Omsk the place he spent the 2020-21 season and labored up a repute as a stable secondary scorer. He was credited with 10 objectives and 17 factors in 32 common season video games performed. He constructed on that incomes a spot within the lineup for 21 of 24 postseason video games en path to a Gagarin Cup championship. Within the course of, he was named the Alexei Cherepanov Trophy winner because the KHL Rookie of the 12 months.

Following these wins, he got here to North America signing his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets on Could 2, 2021. There was actually some hype surrounding his arrival as the primary of a number of prospects from Russia to make their strategy to Ohio. The event curve for Chinakhov hasn’t been a straight line and has had a number of setbacks. In his rookie season, he and Cole Sillinger had their moments. It was a tricky season for the group as they started to seek out an id post-John Tortorella. The younger ahead used the season to get his NHL legs below him and begin to take care of the busy schedule, taking part in in 62 video games scoring seven objectives and 14 factors. He improved in his second season from a factors tempo perspective, however was set again by accidents.

Solely taking part in in 30 NHL video games, he was nonetheless in a position to rating nearly as many factors as he had the season earlier than with 4 objectives and 13 factors. The 2023-24 season was the primary actual step ahead for Chinakhov. After a logjam at ahead compelled him to the American Hockey League (AHL) by opening evening, he was known as up shortly after and simply seemed assured. Attributable to accidents, he was given the chance and seized it, changing into a fixture within the Blue Jackets’ top-six. It’s not solely evident should you look simply at his level manufacturing – 16 objectives and 29 factors in 53 video games don’t soar off the web page, however if you really watch him play there’s a lot to love. There was a stretch in late December by January the place he was the group’s greatest ahead. Throughout that stretch, he was defensively in the appropriate positions and earned 18-20 minutes repeatedly.

This season, Chinakhov has picked up proper the place he left off and earned a spot on the highest line for opening evening. He performed alongside Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko to nice avail. To date, the winger has scored in every of the Blue Jackets’ first 5 video games and leads the group in scoring with three objectives and 7 factors. He’s additionally second in ahead ice time with 19:14 per sport. It’s secure to say he’s solidifying himself as a invaluable piece of the top-six.

Chinakhov’s Metrics Look Promising

The principle factor that has been touted about Chinakhov since his shock draft choice is his shot. He was sixth within the NHL final season for complete 90-plus miles per hour (MPH) pictures on objective with 29. That’s not a prorated rating, that’s based mostly on the gross quantity, and he solely performed 53 video games. Consider what he may do in 82 video games. This season, he’s within the ninetieth or increased percentile for most capturing metrics.

He’s additionally an elite skater. That’s not simply one thing I’m saying, the numbers agree. Chinakhov ended the 2023-24 season tenth within the NHL for 22-plus MPH velocity bursts with 24. He’s continued to point out that velocity this season, tied for fifth in 22-plus MPH bursts and is within the 97th percentile for 18-22 MPH velocity bursts.

Somebody who can shoot that tough and skate like the perfect is actually invaluable to the Blue Jackets as they proceed to form their new core of gamers. Nonetheless solely 23 years previous, he simply wants to remain wholesome and the sky is the restrict. To date, he’s off to a terrific begin because the group leans on him a bit heavier to assist get them by some tough accidents.