Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Top Prospect

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced the team has signed top prospect Yegor Chinakhov to a three-year entry level contract that begins immediately. Chinakhov was the team's first-round pick, 21st overall at the 2020 draft.

The 20-year-old Chinakhov played in the KHL this season, scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists in 32 games. He averaged 14 minutes of ice-time a night which for a youngster is actually a lot in the KHL. Chinakhov led all KHL players under 20 years old in points-per-game (0.53) and goals. Not only did he have some regular season success, the newest member of the Blue Jackets showed up in the playoffs, scoring five times helping Avangard Omsk win the Gagarin Cup.

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had this to say about the newest player on his roster:

We are very pleased to sign Yegor to his entry level contract and are excited about his commitment to the Blue Jackets and taking this next step in his career. He is a smart, dynamic player who had a very good rookie season in the KHL and we look forward to his continued development as a member of our organization.

As per the NHL.com, Chinakhov is 6-0, 178-pound winger posted 1-0-1 in five outings for Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships and helped the country capture a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championships with 2-1-3 and four penalty minutes in seven appearances. He also helped Russia earn a bronze medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with 1-2-3 in five games.