Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Forward to Extension

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Yegor Chinakhov to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension.

Chinakhov was selected with the 21st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, and he is viewed as a big part of the Blue Jackets' future moving forward. After posting a 14-point campaign in 62 games last season as a rookie, the 22-year-old has four goals and nine assists in 30 games this season. However, after suffering a long-term injury in December, he has been with the Cleveland Monsters since his return, where he has three goals and eight points.

Chinakhov has the tools to become a top-six winger later down the road, so it will be intriguing to see how he performs next season for the Blue Jackets. If Columbus wants to turn things around, they will need young players like him to take that next step in their development. Alas, we will need to wait and see how the skilled winger responds to signing this extension through his play from here.