The New York Rangers should be calling on Don Waddell, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, as reported surfaced today that forward Yegor Chinakhov asked for a trade. The trade was put out on "X" through his Agent Shumi Babaev and has since sent the hockey community tumbling with revelations of trouble in Columbus.![Yegor Chinhakhov]()
Yegor Chinakhov was originally selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He was a relative unknown at the time, but he had promise once he arrived in the NHL from the KHL's Avangard Omsk.
He survived multiple coaching changes, from John Tortorella to Brad Larsen and Pascal Vincent. Now it appears he may not survive Dean Evason's tenure.
The cause? Chinakhov would come back from injury last season and put up dismal numbers, and would be a healthy scratch till the end of the year.
Needless to say, this could be a low-risk, high-reward buy for the Rangers, as the winger is on a cost-controlled contract and will be a pending UFA upon its expiration.
Chinakhov has promised and can be utilized in multiple situations, including the power play. But his lack of playing time affected his production, scoring only 15 points (7-8) in 30 games with the Blue Jackets last season.
Since he has requested a trade, it has lowered his value, and he could be pried from Waddell's hands with a low-level prospect and a draft pick.
Say maybe, Carey Terrance and a 2nd-round pick?
«I have to have the right value,» Waddell said. «It depends on how many teams are interested and what teams are willing to pay.»
Waddell is already playing his hand, as Chinakhov has forced him to address the issue publicly.
Chinakhov comes with a $2.1 million cap hit, and would require some moving of cap to make the deal work.
