The Penguins have made a roster move on Monday, acquiring Yegor Chinakhov from Columbus. The move also sent forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick from St. Louis and a 2027 third-round pick from Washington to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Chinakhov.
ESPN reported that Heinen, who is a 10-year NHL veteran, was assigned shortly after to the AHL by Columbus.
Penguins acquire Yegor Chinakhov from the Blue Jackets.
Entering his fifth year in the NHL, the trade comes as no surprise to him, signing a two-year extension with the Blue Jackets in June of 2024 and during the off-season requesting a trade, telling ESPN, "I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade."
This season, Chinakhov has played in 29 games, scoring three goals and adding three assists, for a total of six points, along with a minus-6 rating. Over the past two seasons, he has faced multiple absences, including a 39-game injury layoff in the 2024-25 season and a stint as a healthy scratch at the beginning of this season. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, he remains a young scoring winger.
"This trade provides us with additional draft capital over the next two years and a good two-way player in Danton Heinen that will add to our organizational depth at the forward position," Columbus general manager Don Waddell said in a statement.
He added that the change of scenery for Yegor was beneficial for both."With regard to Yegor, we believe a change of scenery was in the best interests of both he and the club and we thank him for his contributions over the past five seasons."
The Pittsburgh Penguins return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena, their first game after a road win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
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