Blue Jackets Rejected Maple Leafs Trade Attempt For Chinakhov

The Columbus Blue Jackets are still looking to trade Yegor Chinakhov after the young forward asked for a trade, but they aren't just going to give him away for nothing. The Toronto Maple Leafs made an attempt to bring in the Russian from the Blue Jackets when they offered the team Nick Robertson for Chinakhov. Columbus rejected the trade, per Elliotte Friedman.

While, for the most part, it was believed that Nick Robertson needed a fresh start elsewhere, he has been playing on the top line and has five goals and 11 points in 19 games. All he seemed to have really needed was a better opportunity.

It may have been a blessing in disguise that the Maple Leafs weren't able to pull off the one-for-one trade with the Blue Jackets. Chinakhov, despite playing more after being sat at the beginning of the season, is once again in the press box and has two goals and four points in 14 games this season.

While both teams need to do something to shake things up, Robertson isn't that move. For the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov is someone they do need to trade though. These two young players are in completely different roles at the moment and Robertson has stepped up and started to play like the player the Maple Leafs had hoped for.

There are injuries in Toronto's lineup and with the opportunity Robertson has gotten, it should be evidence that he should stick in the top-6 for a longer period of time. He is a cheap, productive young player that the Maple Leafs need more of. There are plenty of other players to move first at this point.