One day after the NHL’s holiday roster freeze was lifted, the Pittsburgh Penguins broke the ice in a major way on Monday.
They acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, a second-round draft pick in 2026 and a third-round selection in 2027.
Chinakhov, 24, has appeared in 29 games this season and has six points (three goals, three assists) while averaging 10 minutes, 18 seconds of ice time per contest.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) December 29, 2025
A left-handed shot, Chinakhov (pronounced “CHEE-nah-kahv”) opened 25 games this season on the right wing and four as a left winger.
“We believe Yegor has the potential to become a winger who can play anywhere across the top of the lineup,” Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said via an e-mail with Pittsburgh-area outlets. “That belief comes from the fact that he showed that ability on a consistent basis early last season over a long stretch of games before his season got off track for a variety of reasons. We must create the right environment, and he needs to put in the work with our staff that will allow him to be at his best very consistently.”
His departure from Columbus brings an end to a disharmonious union. In July, Chinakhov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, announced Chinakhov had requested a trade. “Misunderstandings” with coach Dean Evason were cited as motivation for the request.
Yegor Chinakhov:
I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location.
Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/DQ1qU2oHFb— Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025
“Anytime a player has public issues with their team, we do a lot of digging to figure out what has truly gone on,” Dubas wrote. “In this case, what was more important to us was that Yegor reported to camp and continued to work hard despite the opportunity not being what he wanted. As for moving forward, we expect him to earn great opportunity and then make the most of it.”
A first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) of the Blue Jackets in 2020, Chinakhov (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) has largely failed to meet his potential as an NHLer. In parts of five seasons with the Blue Jackets, he established modest career highs in goals (16), assists (13) and points (29) over 53 games during the 2023-24 season.
“He’s a young player in his early 20s who has flashed great potential,” Dubas wrote. “So our development team and coaching staff will be tasked with getting his form to that level, Yegor matching the work that our staff will put in to match our belief in him, and everyone working together to stay there for a long time.”
“What we like about Chinakhov is his size, speed, ability to get to the net with the puck, ability to shoot and score from distance, and we feel he adds a lot defensively when tracking back with speed.”
The Omsk, Russia, native is in the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.1 million. He is a pending restricted free agent after this upcoming season and is eligible for salary arbitration.
It is not yet known if Chinakhov will be available for Tuesday’s home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Dubas labeled his status as “questionable,” citing immigration procedures as well as travel and weather concerns. The Blue Jackets trekked to Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday for a road game against the Senators, and wintry conditions have inhibited air traffic for much of the continent from Chicago on east.
Having largely collected future assets in many of his trades in recent years, Dubas was not shy about jettisoning a handful of relatively high draft picks to acquire Chinakhov. Following this transaction, the Penguins still possess 34 selections in the next three NHL drafts, including 19 picks in the first three rounds.
“No hesitation,” Dubas wrote. “We have a lot of draft picks, and we need to use them to procure high-potential young players.
Each of the draft picks the Penguins jettisoned was acquired through trades.
The 2026 second-rounder was originally property of the St. Louis Blues and was dealt to the Penguins in an exchange of several draft picks on Aug. 13, 2024.
As for the 2027 third-rounder, the Penguins accrued that selection in a deal that sent forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals on Nov. 12, 2024.
To make room for Chinakhov on the active roster, defenseman Ryan Graves was designated as non-roster as the team plans to place him on waivers Tuesday afternoon. Should he go unclaimed, Graves can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League).
Having previously cleared waivers Oct. 4, Graves opened the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and skated in 10 games with that club, posting seven points (one goal, six assists).
Recalled to the NHL roster Nov. 4, Graves primarily skated on the left side of the third pairing and has scored one goal in 17 games while averaging 15:19 of ice time per contest. He has been a healthy scratch for the past six games.
Graves, 30, is in the third year of a six-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $4.5 million. With an assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, $1.15 million of his salary cap hit will come off the books for the NHL club per league rules.
Heinen departs the Penguins following a second tour of duty with the club.
Reacquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31, Heinen bounced between the NHL and AHL rosters this season.
After clearing waivers Monday, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL before being dealt to the Blue Jackets.
In 13 NHL games this season, Heinen has two points (one goal, one assist) while averaging 11:40 of ice time per contest, predominantly as a bottom-six forward.
Previously clearing waivers Oct. 3, Heinen has been productive at the AHL level this season. In 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has generated 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) while largely skating on the top two lines.
Heinen, 30, is in the final year of a contract carrying an average annual value of $2.25 million.
Note: Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was withheld from practice Monday in Cranberry due to an unspecified illness. Penguins coach Dan Muse labeled his absence as precautionary.
