Scouts From Oilers & Plenty More Rush To See Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets hosted a busy night as scouts from all around the league flooded in to see them host the Colorado Avalanche. The interest was heavily directed towards the Blue Jackets, though, as Yegor Chinakhov made his season debut.

It was a lackluster debut for the 2025-26 season by the trade candidate. He played just 9 minutes, was a -1, and blocked one shot. Chinakhov skated alongside Isac Lundestrom and Zach Aston-Reese on the fourth line. It wasn't what teams were looking to see, but it also shows how the talented young forward needs a change in scenery and a better opportunity.

It was just the fourth game of the season for Columbus, but Mark Scheig reported that 20 teams and 24 scouts showed up to the game and made note that it was Chinakhov's first game this season after asking for a trade in the offseason.

Aaron Portzline said that the box was jammed with three scouts from the Edmonton Oilers, including one goalie scout, two from the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth, as well as one from the other teams reported by Scheig.

Chinakhov is 24 years old and has a $2.1 million AAV cap hit for the remainder of the season before becoming an RFA. There is hardly room for him to get any playing time as is, so moving forward doesn't look good for him in Columbus with forward prospects such as Jordan Dumais, Cayden Lindstrom, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Mikael Pyyhtia, and Luca Pinelli all in the mix. Chinakhov has already been passed over by Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov, and Kent Johnson.

Chinakhov scored seven goals and 15 points in 30 games last season following 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games in 2023-24. He can produce in the NHL and has to be put in a place to do so. That isn't going to be with the Blue Jackets, but he will very likely find a new home this season, as there is proven interest in the young player.