Yegor Chinakhov to the Boston Bruins?

Yegor Chinakhov to the Boston Bruins?

Are the Boston Bruins one piece away from unlocking their secondary scoring potential? Probably not, but honestly, it it just sounded really cool. In this video, we’re going to break down why trading for Igor Chin knockoff could be smart, low-risk move that gives the Bees a dynamic shooter with untapped upside, exactly what the roster needs. So, buckle up, Bruins fans. I’m here to give you the latest info on your beloved Boston Bruins. If you’ve been liking my Bruins content, please leave me a like and subscribe. If you’ve already done so, thank you and let’s get into it. He scores. If you’re a Boston Bruins fan wondering where the next scoring winger could come from, it might be time to look west to a frustrated but talented Russian forward who has quietly made waves in Columbus. The fact that I just called Columbus West is just hilarious. Igor Chinakov, the 24-year-old winger, has officially requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. And while he may not be a household name in Boston yet, there’s real upside here if the Bruins are interested in a highly skilled reclamation project. But to fully understand the value of Chinakov, why he could fit so well in Boston, we need to rewind the tape and start at the beginning. Igor Chinakov was born on February 1st, 2001 in Amps, Russia and grew up playing in Avgards development system. Despite a strong showing in Russia’s junior leagues, Chino knockoff was an offthe-board selection when the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him 21st overall in the first round of the 2020 NHL entry draft. In fact, many scouting outlets and even the NHL insiders were caught off guard by the picked. Some publications didn’t even have him listed in their top 100 prospects. It’s like what the Boston Bruins did this year. But Columbus and particularly former GM Yarmmo Kakalinan saw something they liked. a heavy shot, elusive puck skills, and high offensive instincts. After the draft, Chinov returned to Russia for the 202021 season where he made an immediate impact in the KHL. Playing for his hometown Avgar AMS, he posted 17 points in 32 games and was a key contributor in the playoffs, helping his team win the Gargan Cup. Honestly, I probably said a ton of names wrong here, and I do apologize. The KHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup. And there’s probably someone in the comments tell me why it’s called that. That performance earned him a three-year entry-level contract with Columbus and he made his NHL debut in 202122 season. What kind of player is Chinov? In a nutshell, he’s a skilled rightwinger who shoots left with a sniper mentality and a deceptive release. One of his greatest strengths is his shot. Not just how hard it is, but how quickly and deceptive he gets it off. Chanakov can score from a range, especially on the power play. And he’s not afraid to shoot often. He shoots volume and has steadily improved since entering the NHL, averaging more than two shots per game when he’s given consistent ice time. More on ice time later. It’s easy to imagine him thriving on the Boston Bruins second power play unit, finding soft spots, and letting his wrist shot fly past screen goalenders. But it’s not just his shot. He’s got decent vision, strong puck skills, and a good sense for spacing in the offensive zone. Chanakov has shown flashes of creative playmaking, especially when he draws defenders towards him. He’s been able to work the half wall, protect the puck reasonably well, and can make clean passes through traffic. His best NHL stretch came in 2023 24 season when he posted 29 points in 53 games, including 16 goals. That kind of production from a middle six role is exactly what kind of the upside the Bruins could use, especially with long-term questions about secondary scoring on this team. All that said, Chinakov is still a work in progress, and there are parts of his game that need refinement. Skating is probably his most noticeable area of weakness. While he’s not slow by NHL standards, his acceleration and edgework lag behind more dynamic wingers. He can look a bit stiff when turning and doesn’t have that extra gear to separate on the rush. That limits his transition game and makes him more effective in structured offensive zone situations. In Boston’s system, where defense for structure is key and controlled entries are often preferred, that could actually work in his favor. Defensively, Chinakov is serviceable but not elite. He isn’t a liability, but he also hasn’t developed that kind of two-way presence that coaches love to rely on in lategame situations. Part of that comes from inexperience, and part of that comes from being used mostly in offensive roles. The potential is there, but he needs to improve his awareness, positioning, and back-checking effort to earn full trust of someone like Marco. So, why is Chinov looking to leave Columbus? Well, the answer is part frustration, part stagnation. After an injury plagued 2024 25 season, including a lingering back issue. God, I hate those. Chinakov found himself falling out of favor with head coach Dean Evansson. He was scratched multiple times despite being healthy, often shuffled down the lineup and saw his minutes cut dramatically. Through 30 games that season, he still managed 15 points. Not bad production considering the circumstances. But the lack of trust and role clarity took its toll. His agent made it official on July 17th, 2025, confirming that Chinakov Hec requested a trade and wanted a fresh start with an organization that believed in his skill set and potential. This is where the Boston Bruins can come in. The Bruins, they’re in an interesting phase right now. They’re facing a bit of a reset in terms of depth scoring. Patrice Berseron and David Crerache are retired. Brad Marshan in Florida now. There’s a pressing need for offensive support outside of David Pastnac and Morgan Geeki. While young players like Matthew Potra and Fabian Lysel are developing, the Bruins are still need more proven offensive weapons or at least promising scorers in the mix. Chanakov, still on a very reasonable $2.1 million cap hit, is under team control and becomes a restrictive free agent next summer. That kind of control flexibility makes him an attractive low-risk, high-reward trade target. On the Bruins depth chart, he could slide into a middle six winger role potentially next to Casey Middlestat or Fraser Mitten. If Sturm can give him the offensive leash he needs to find rhythm, Chinov could become a 15 to 20 goal scorer, especially with power play time. His shooting skill would be a welcome addition to the second unit that sometimes struggles to generate clean looks. Boston’s coaching staff well known for teaching structure and skating technique could help iron out the wrinkles in his defensive game and help maximize his strengths. Another reason the fit works is culture. Boston is team that values players who work hard and buy into systems. While Chinakov’s issues in Columbus may raise some eyebrows, most reports suggest he’s not a locker room problem. Instead, it appears he simply wants to play meaningful minutes and be trusted to contribute. Given the Bruins reputation for professionalism, structure, and player development, I don’t know why I said that one. Chinakov might find exactly what he’s looking for in the black and gold. The Bruins player development isn’t terrible, but it isn’t exactly the best. But then again, they really just trade guys away a lot and they try and go all in. I’m sure you’re asking by now, what would it cost the Bruins? This is a great question and truly hard to say. Are the Blue Jackets looking for futures or could the Bruins interest them in one of their prospects that just might need a change of scenery and shown some offensive upside in the AHL? Could the Bruins be able to entice Columbus to maybe take Georgie Murcul or even newly acquired last season Mirat Husadinoff? According to Daily Face Off, they have Columbus putting Chino off in their top six role, so it might cost the Bruins a lot more to acquire him, but I’m not too sure about that. I’m honestly not sure what the market would be for him. According to Aaron Portsline, Don Woodell stated that he’s not going to simply accept the best offer to appease Chanakov. We’ll only move him if he gets an acceptable offer. Expectation is he’ll be at training camp. It tells me he’s in no hurry to move him and he wants to see what he has at camp to know exactly what Columbus needs are right now. It would be hard for him to make any trade. In conclusion, Chanakov is a player with a first round pedigree, a dangerous NHL caliber shot, and a potential to grow into a reliable secondary scorer. His time in Columbus may have been uneven, but it’s shown enough flashes, especially during the 23-24 breakout, to warrant a serious interest. His trade request is a reflection of a player who knows he has more to offer and wants a fresh start. For the Boston Bruins, he represents a lowcost swing at an upside and a player who might just click in the right environment. And if that click happens in TD Garden, Bruins fans could be watching the emergence of a sneaky goodscoring threat who is just waiting for the right team to believe in him. That’s a wrap on today’s video. 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Are the Boston Bruins one piece away from unlocking their secondary scoring potential? In this video, we’re breaking down why trading for Yegor Chinakhov could be a smart, low-risk move that gives the B’s a dynamic shooter with untapped upside, precisely what this roster needs.

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