Penguins Trip To The Playoffs Confirms The Worst For Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell
The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Egor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of December. The Blue Jackets let Chinakhov languish in the bottom-six, and at times was a healthy scratch.
The 21st overall selection in 2020 has skyrocketed in production after being placed under the leadership of head coach Dan Muse.
In the last 43 games of his career, he's scored 36 points (18-18), being given the responsibility as a top-nine forward in the Penguins' lineup. A stark contrast to his underutilization in the Blue Jackets system, scoring 6 points (3-3) in 29 games under head coach Dean Evason and Rick Bowness.
This trade was the culmination of a request from Chinakhov, which came at the end of last season, in July.
"I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade," Chinakhov said in the post. "I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here."
In return, general manager Don Waddell received forward Danton Heinen from the Penguins.
Who Won The Trade?
In 33 games this season as a bottom-six forward on the Blue Jackets, he scored 10 points (5-5). While his new team fell out of a playoff race.
The Blue Jackets won 3 out of their last 13 games, and Heinen wasn't the kind of impact player who could push the team deep into the postseason.
The 116th overall pick in 2014 by the Boston Bruins has played 612 games in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
He had a career year in 2017-18 as a Bruin, scoring 47 points (16-31) in 77 games, and has never been able to replicate that year.
It's easy to see who won the trade, as the Blue Jackets armed up for the postseason with Heinen, while Chinakhov was a game-changer for the Penguins.
Perhaps, if Waddell had originally fulfilled his request in July 2025, the return might not have been so inadequate.
Chinakhov's contract expires at the end of the season as a restricted free agent; GM Kyle Dubas should do his best to retain his services for the Penguins' future.
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