{"id":71877,"date":"2025-07-18T05:53:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/71877\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T05:53:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T05:53:09","slug":"yegor-chinakhov-requests-trade-from-blue-jackets-cites-misunderstandings-with-coach-dean-evason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/71877\/","title":{"rendered":"Yegor Chinakhov requests trade from Blue Jackets, cites \u2018misunderstandings\u2019 with coach Dean Evason"},"content":{"rendered":"

COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2014 Yegor Chinakhov, a 2020 first-round pick whose early career with the Columbus Blue Jackets has been beset by injuries, has requested a trade, the club confirmed on Thursday. The request became public after a social media post by Chinakhov\u2019s agent.<\/p>\n

In a post on X, Chinakhov\u2019s agent, Shumi Babaev, appeared to quote the winger in writing: \u201cI had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The request was not news to Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised (agent Shumi Babaev) went public,\u201d Waddell said to The Athletic. \u201cBut I\u2019m not surprised (about the trade request) because we\u2019ve talked about it. He got back (from the back injury last season) and didn\u2019t play well, and (Chinakhov and Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason) fell out of favor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told (Babaev), he has value. I will talk to teams. I have talked to teams. But I\u2019m not just going to trade him because you said to trade him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Babaev declined to comment via text when contacted by The Athletic.<\/p>\n

\n

Yegor Chinakhov:
I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. 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 @BlueJacketsNHL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/DQ1qU2oHFb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shumi Babaev Agency (@BabayevShumi) July 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s possible that Babaev was paraphrasing Chinakhov from an interview that was published in Thursday\u2019s edition of Sport-Express, a Russian sports outlet.<\/p>\n

The interview, which The Athletic translated using Google, includes the following back and forth between Chinakhov and Sport-Express special correspondent Alexey Shevchenko:<\/p>\n

Shevchenko:<\/strong> \u201cI have a feeling that you will calmly accept a trade to another club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chinakhov:<\/strong> \u201cI will be even happy, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shevchenko:<\/strong> It is because of what has accumulated? Taking into account all the unsuccessful periods and misunderstandings with the head coach?<\/p>\n

Chinkahov:<\/strong> All together, in total, yes. I want to change my location.<\/p>\n

Shevchenko:<\/strong> It makes absolutely no difference which team?<\/p>\n

Chinakhov:<\/strong> No, of course not. There is a difference, but the main thing is that everything works out.<\/p>\n

Chinakhov has played in 175 games during his first four NHL seasons, missing 109 games due to injuries, including 40 games last season with a back injury. After he returned to the lineup March 4, he was a healthy scratch in 12 of the final 17 games.<\/p>\n

He finished with seven goals, eight assists, 15 points and a minus-6 rating in 30 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he came back, he was not the Chinakhov we were hoping he was, and he got healthy scratched at the end (of the season),\u201d Waddell said. \u201cThat\u2019s what happens with guys. He couldn\u2019t handle that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Waddell said Babaev going public doesn\u2019t change his position, or add more urgency to his efforts to trade Chinakhov. He declined to disclose the asking price, but it has been clear all summer that the Blue Jackets are seeking immediate roster help, not future assets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ignore it,\u201d Waddell said of the post. \u201cI\u2019ll talk to teams. I\u2019ll continue to talk to teams. But him (going public) isn\u2019t going to change my thinking on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to have the right value. It depends on how many teams are interested and what teams are willing to pay. I can ask for whatever I want, but what\u2019s the market? And if the market\u2019s not good enough, he\u2019ll be a Blue Jacket.\u201d<\/p>\n

The expectation, Waddell said, is that Chinakhov \u2014 if he remains with the Blue Jackets \u2014 will show up for training camp in two months and be ready to play. He had a procedure on his lingering back injury last season during the 4 Nations Face-Off and went into the offseason with a clean bill of health, Waddell said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred percent he\u2019ll be (at camp),\u201d Waddell said. \u201cHe\u2019s under contract, making (over) $2 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been through this before. If he comes back and says, \u2018My agent tried to find me a different place, but I\u2019m here and I\u2019m going to play as hard as I can.\u2019 \u2026 I\u2019ve seen it a number of times, and usually it\u2019s not an issue if the player shows up with the right attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Photo: Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n