When the Blue Jackets selected Yegor Chinakhov with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 Draft, many draft analysts did not know who he was.
This is hilarious. pic.twitter.com/WOS4fm5kk8
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) October 7, 2020
After a hot start to the 2023-24 season that's seen Chinakhov score 10 goals in 25 games, they surely know him now.
Chinakhov is scoring 0.4 goals/game this season, which puts him on a 32-goal pace over an 82-game season. Through his first two seasons, he recorded 11 goals in 92 games, 0.12 goals/game, which is a nine-goal pace over an 82-game season.
#CBJ Chinakhov (10) goal pic.twitter.com/lusT2xaReP
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 28, 2023
One thing that sticks out is Chinakhov's shooting percentage this season, which sits at 20.4%, 9.4% above his career average, and 12.7% above his totals through two seasons.
#CBJ Chinakhov (6) goal pic.twitter.com/4X3Zv9wxWl
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 10, 2023
It's entirely possible, if not probable, that Chinakhov's shooting percentage regresses to the mean and his goal/game pace decreases, but he has the tools to produce at a 30-goal/season level.
#CBJ Chinakhov (9) goal pic.twitter.com/q4F8JGZxAS
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) December 22, 2023
Assuming he plays the remaining 46 games of this season, Chinakhov is on pace to finish with 28 goals, which would be a fantastic season for him.
Chinakhov has elite tools. According to NHL EDGE, he's in the 96th percentile in top skating speed (23.38 mph), the 95th percentile of speed bursts over 20 mph (97), and the 93rd percentile of top shot speed (98.05 mph).
It appears that he's beginning to fulfill his potential. Can he keep up this production through the rest of the season?
