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Yegor Chinakhov

Columbus Blue Jackets Assign David Jiricek To AHL, Make Other Roster Moves

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have their final 23-man roster in place to start the season, making a flurry of camp cuts today to do so. Those cuts are headlined by defenseman David Jiricek, who’s been assigned to the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters for the second straight season after the club selected him sixth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. Defenseman Nick Blankenburg and forward Dmitri Voronkov were also assigned to the AHL, while their other top pick in 2022, defenseman Denton Mateychuk, has been returned to the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors. Lastly, Columbus placed forwards Yegor Chinakhov and Jordan Dumais, as well as goaltender Daniil Tarasov on the season-opening injured/non-roster list. Forward Mathieu Olivier was also placed on injured reserve.

Many believed Jiricek, 19, would make Columbus out of camp thanks to a strong showing in his rookie season with the Monsters. However, after Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen added a pair of veteran bodies to his blueline this summer in Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson, the path to a roster spot muddied significantly for the Blue Jackets’ many young defense prospects. Jiricek is still looking for his first NHL point after skating in four NHL contests with Columbus last season. With Cleveland, he recorded six goals, 32 assists, 38 points, and a -11 rating in 55 games.

Blankenburg and Voronkov were also both strong candidates to make Columbus’ opening-night roster. Blankenburg, a 5-foot-9, 174-pound right-shot defenseman, joined the Blue Jackets in 2022 via free agency after captaining a star-studded University of Michigan squad. The 25-year-old immediately stuck in the NHL, thanks partially in part to the Blue Jackets’ rash of injuries on the blue line last season, but he didn’t look out of place at all. While injuries affected Blankenburg too, limiting him to 36 contests, the diminutive defender recorded four goals and ten assists for 14 points – an impressive 32-point pace over 82 games. He’s destined for a major role in Cleveland to start the season and will be one of Columbus’ first call-up options aside from Jiricek.

Voronkov, 23, will get his first taste of North American hockey in the minors. The 2019 fourth-round pick was expected to make a push for a roster spot after breaking out for 18 goals and 31 points in 54 contests with the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan last season. Like the two others mentioned before him, expect a recall for Voronkov at some point during the 2023-24 campaign.

Mateychuk, however, will likely have to wait until 2024-25 (or at least the very end of 2023-24) to get his first taste of NHL hockey. The 12th-overall selection in 2022 returns to Moose Jaw, where he will reclaim his role as the team’s captain after registering 129 points in 128 games over the past two campaigns.

There’s nothing new regarding the injuries to the four players destined for IR. All injuries were previously reported and were expected to keep them out through at least opening night. These are paper moves to get the team’s roster compliant before tonight’s deadline.

Yegor Chinakhov, Daniil Tarasov Will Begin Season On IR

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The Columbus Blue Jackets will place both forward Yegor Chinakhov and goaltender Daniil Tarasov on injured reserve prior to Monday’s opening-night roster deadline, per The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline. Chinakhov is listed as day-to-day with a back injury, while Tarasov carries a day-to-day designation for a knee injury. Both sustained the injuries shortly after training camp began in mid-September.

Chinakhov, 22, is three years removed from being one of the most surprising first-round picks in recent memory. So far, it appears to have been somewhat of a worthy gamble – he notched 13 points in 30 games for Columbus last season and has posted strong numbers in limited AHL action since coming to North America before 2021-22. Unfortunately, missing nearly all of training camp may have cost him a spot in the NHL lineup when he does return from injury. Not only does the winger not require waivers for assignment to AHL Cleveland, but his roster spot wasn’t secured – many young forwards were battling for spots in Columbus’ bottom six, all of whom had more chances during camp to earn the trust of head coach Pascal Vincent.

While it’s concerning that an injury that’s carried a day-to-day designation for two-and-a-half weeks may stretch out closer to a month, the news surrounding Tarasov’s health gives even more pause. When the Blue Jackets confirmed Tarasov’s injury on September 23rd, Portzline reported that it wasn’t serious. In fact, he went so far as to say Tarasov would be available at that point if the regular season was beginning. Luckily, Portzline had already confirmed this knee injury is not related to a significant one he suffered during the 2021-22 campaign, but it’s still not a good sign to see a seemingly innocuous pre-season injury stretching out and affecting regular-season availability.

The 24-year-old Tarasov had a much clearer path to a roster spot entering camp as the undisputed backup to starting netminder Elvis Merzlikins. A 2017 third-round draft pick, Tarasov got off to quite a hot start to his career, posting a .936 save percentage in four contests with Columbus in 2021-22 before the previous knee injury ended his campaign. He played 17 games last season, recording a subpar .892 save percentage and 3.91 goals-against average, but still posted far superior numbers to Merzlikins’ eye-opening .876 save percentage and 4.23 goals-against average. There were few goalies worse than Merzlikins last season, and his -25.9 goals saved above expected per MoneyPuck ranked last out of all goalies to play 20 games in 2022-23.

Another name near the bottom of last season’s list was Spencer Martin, who the Blue Jackets claimed on waivers last week from the Vancouver Canucks to serve as Merzlikins’ backup until Tarasov returns to action. Martin, 28, is largely an AHL veteran but got a shot as the Canucks’ backup last season, appearing in 29 contests and recording a .871 save percentage. It was a necessary claim, as the Blue Jackets’ only two goalies under NHL contract were 22-year-old Jet Greaves, an undrafted free agent signing entering his third season of pro hockey, and 19-year-old Nolan Lalonde, who will spend this season as the starter for the OHL’s Erie Otters.

Snapshots: MacDermid, Chinakhov, Penguins Hires

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29-year-old 220-game NHL veteran Kurtis MacDermid is known for bringing one thing to the NHL teams that employ him: physicality. The six-foot-five, 233-pound former Erie Otter has racked up 295 career penalty minutes and 162 career hits. For most of his career, MacDermid has played as a defenseman, contributing only very rarely to the offense. Now, though, it appears that might be changing.

According to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh, the Avalanche view MacDermid as a forward, not a defenseman, and discussed that sort of change at the end of last season. The change might suit MacDermid as he ages, as his lack of speed would be less likely to be exposed were he a winger rather than a defenseman potentially left to defend against aggressive rushing attackers. MacDermid is playing out the final season of a $987k AAV deal, meaning this position change could also have a financial implication as well, as if it allows him to get into the NHL lineup more regularly (he played in a little over half the Avalanche’s games last season) he could be in a better position hitting the open market.

Some other notes from across the NHL:

  • Columbus Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports that sniper Yegor Chinakhov is day to day with a back strain, which explains his absence from the ice at Blue Jackets training camp for the past few days. It’s an important camp for Chinakhov, 22, as he’s looking to carve out a spot for himself in new coach Pascal Vincent’s lineup. The Blue Jackets have a logjam at forward and quite a few players competing against Chinakhov for the same role, so the 2020 first-round pick will hope that he can get back on the ice quickly to make some progress in camp.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced the hires of hired Mackenzie Braid as Skating Coach and Jeff Murray as Assistant Skating Coach. Per the club, “In their new roles, Braid and Murray will build out the club’s skating development program and work with the player development department and coaching staffs in Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Wheeling to implement that program.” Braid has previous NHL experience with both Vancouver and Anaheim, while Jeff Murray was last seen as a player playing fourth-division German hockey for ERV Schweinfurt in 2019-20.

Columbus Signs Yegor Chinakhov To Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have signed forward Yegor Chinakhov to a one-year, $800K extension for the 2023-24 season. In doing so, their former first-round pick of the 2020 NHL Draft has at least one more guaranteed season in Ohio.

A rookie last season, Chinakhov has played a total of 92 games for the Blue Jackets, scoring 11 goals and 16 assists. Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets and Chinakhov, the young forward was placed on injured reserve on December 20th of 2022, only to be taken off on February 27th of this year. Losing a couple of months at the beginning of his career will not be detrimental to his growth, but may be a cause for concern going forward for Columbus.

Blue Jackets General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen touted the Columbus forward, saying, “Yegor has shown great improvement this season despite missing considerable time over the past few months due to injury. He is a talented player with a great work ethic and desire to improve, and we are very excited about his future with the Blue Jackets.”

Since his reinstatement from the injured reserve earlier this calendar year, Chinakhov has been playing for the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters. In seven games so far this season, Chinakhov has put up three goals and five assists. Unfortunately, Chinakhov will not be able to see playoff time this season, as both Columbus and Cleveland will not make the postseason this year.

Columbus Blue Jackets Activate Carson Meyer, Yegor Chinakhov

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated Carson Meyer and Yegor Chinakhov from injured reserve, immediately sending them both down to the minor leagues. The pair have each missed at least 20 games and will need some time in the AHL before any further action with the Blue Jackets.

Chianakhov, 22, last played on December 19, lasting just one shift before going down to a serious ankle injury. The young forward had recorded 13 points in his first 30 games and had recently been moved up the lineup to receive more ice time. Now, with the months-long setback behind him, he’ll try to get back on track and re-establish himself as an NHL talent going into next season.

Meyer, meanwhile, last played on January 10 and was already getting only a handful of shifts per game. The 25-year-old forward failed to record a single point in his 13 games with Columbus this season, but is an excellent piece for the Cleveland Monsters. While he might get another chance with the Blue Jackets, his activation will be a big boost for an AHL club struggling to stay relevant in the Calder Cup chase.

Incredibly, the Blue Jackets still have five players on injured reserve even with the two activations. It has been a catastrophic season for the club that expected to challenge for the playoffs after signing Johnny Gaudreau last summer. It should be noted that activating and sending Chinakhov and Meyer down does open up some extra cap room for Columbus, who are currently operating in the LTIR relief created by Zach Werenski’s season-ending injury. If they wanted to add at the deadline, these moves only help.

Yegor Chinakhov Out Six Weeks

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12/21/22: We now have some more clarity on Chinakhov’s injury and the timeline related to his recovery process. The Blue Jackets have announced that Chinakhov suffered a high ankle sprain in Monday’s game against the Dallas Stars, an injury that will cause him to miss approximately six weeks.

Chinakhov, the 21st overall pick at the 2020 draft, had been having a solid sophomore NHL season. While the Blue Jackets in general have struggled mightily, Chinakhov’s 13 points put him just one point behind his total production from last season. This year, though, he has scored those 13 points in 30 games, while last year it took him 62 games to score 14.

Needless to say, this high ankle sprain is an unwelcome development for the Blue Jackets. But the team can, at the very least, be encouraged by his progress on the ice so far this year as they monitor his injury recovery process.

12/20/22: It’s hard to believe just how many Columbus Blue Jackets players have suffered serious injuries this season but the list just keeps getting longer. Today, Yegor Chinakhov was moved to injured reserve with an ankle injury. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that the young forward will get an MRI later today but is expected to be out of the lineup for a while.

Elvis Merzlikins is also dealing with an illness, meaning Jet Greaves has been recalled under emergency conditions and will serve as the backup tonight for Daniil Tarasov.

Chinakhov, 21, joins an injured reserve list that could nearly be a full NHL roster. Jakub Voracek, Boone Jenner, Jake Bean, Joonas Korpisalo, Justin Danforth, Nick Blankenburg, Zach Werenski, and Adam Boqvist are already out, while Cole Sillinger is dealing with a more minor injury.

Already in last place in the Eastern Conference and on a four-game losing streak, the Blue Jackets look like prime contenders for a lottery pick next summer.

Injury Notes: Bryson, Lafferty, Chinakhov

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The Buffalo Sabres updated a few injuries today, with some good and bad news coming along. Kyle Okposo will be back in the lineup tonight, and Rasmus Asplund is only out day-to-day. Unfortunately, Jacob Bryson is on the shelf on a week-to-week basis after leaving Wednesday’s game with a lower-body injury.

Some Sabres fans may argue it’s no big loss, given how Bryson has played of late – his usage has been steadily declining – but losing defensive depth is never a positive. The 25-year-old was a solid piece for Buffalo last season and despite recent challenges, is still an important player to keep in the mix. The Sabres will take on the New Jersey Devils tonight, a tough task (especially after the chaos that surrounded New Jersey’s last game).

Bob Hartley, Yegor Chinakhov Win KHL Awards

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It’s been two decades since Bob Hartley lifted the Stanley Cup over his head as the victorious head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, but don’t think that means he stopped winning. The former NHL bench boss was named KHL Coach of the Year today after taking home the Gagarin Cup with Avangard Omsk.

This championship season continues a winning tradition for Hartley. In 1990 and 1991 he took home the title in the CJHL with the Hawkesbury Hawks. In 1993 he was a QMJHL champion with the Laval Titan. In 1997 he won the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears. Then came the Stanley Cup in 2001 with the Avalanche and some lean years, but he was back on top as an NLA Champion with the ZSC Lions. Now champion of the KHL, there’s little Hartley hasn’t accomplished (his Latvian World Championship squad even recently downed the Canadians in an incredible upset).

Hartley’s name has been brought up in talks of NHL vacancies, but it’s not clear if he is ready to return to the NHL just yet. If he does decide to put his name in the ring, it’s hard to find a more impressive overall resume at this point.

That wasn’t the only award handed out by the KHL today though. The league named Eddie Pasquale the top goaltender, Chris Wideman the top defenseman and Yegor Chinakhov the top rookie.

Chinakhov may be a familiar name now thanks to the draft day confusion that followed his selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Seen as an “off-the-board” pick by Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen, the 20-year-old proved he was worth the 21st overall slot when he scored 17 points in 32 games for Hartley’s team and added another seven in the Gagarin Cup playoff run. Chinakhov signed his entry-level contract at the beginning of May but didn’t have time to get into any games with the Blue Jackets down the stretch.

Yegor Chinakhov Signs With Columbus Blue Jackets

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Sunday: Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that the entry-level deal for Chinakhov is now official. However, with little time remaining in the season and plenty of visa paperwork still needed to be done, Chinakhov will not be able to play for the team this season. However, his contract will begin this season, meaning that he will become a restricted free-agent after the 2022-23 season. The Blue Jackets have confirmed the deal.

Friday: After winning the Gagarin Cup earlier this week, Yegor Chinakhov had a decision to make whether to re-sign in the KHL and continue his career in Russia, or join the Columbus Blue Jackets who drafted him last fall. When his KHL contract expired today, the decision was made, and Chinakhov is coming to North America according to his agent Shumi Babaev. The Blue Jackets have not released any details, but the 20-year-old forward will be limited to a three-year entry-level contract.

As Aaron Portzline of The Athletic tweets, it seems unlikely Chinakhov will be able to play before the end of this season because of the time it takes to secure a visa, but this is still a big step for the Blue Jackets as they look to turn the page on a disastrous campaign. Selected 21st overall in October, a shocking decision according to many analysts, Chinakhov was an overage draft prospect set to make his KHL debut. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has never been shy about picking the player he believes in regardless of consensus draft ranking, and Chinakhov looks like another winner.

In 32 games for Avangard Omsk during the regular season, Chinakhov recorded 10 goals and 17 points. Add in another five goals and seven points in the postseason and you have quite the strong campaign for a player who only turned 20 in February and was playing at the KHL level for the first time. Near the end of the playoffs, he was logging substantial minutes on the championship squad, even eclipsing veteran names like Ilya Kovalchuk and Sergey Tolchinsky at times (though an illness kept him out of the clinching game).

Columbus has very few players actually signed for the 2021-22 campaign, meaning there could be plenty of opportunity in the organization should Chinakhov prove to be NHL ready. After such a disappointing season for Kekalainen’s team, change seems inevitable.

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