This is perhaps the best news that Blue Jackets fans will get all season.
Yegor Chinakhov, the club's first-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract that begins this year. Obviously, the 20-year-old, won't be able to make it over the Atlantic Ocean in time to play this season due to visas and quarantine protocols, so the first year of his contract will be this season, and he'll be a restricted free agent after the 2022-'23 season.
The Russian winger notched 10-7-17 in 32 regular-season games, and 5-2-7 in 21 playoff games as his club, Avangard Omsk, won the Gagarin Trophy. He's now ready to take the next step in his career and head overseas to join the Blue Jackets' organization. It's too soon to tell whether he will begin his career with Cleveland or Columbus, but he'll get opportunities during training camp to cement his status at the NHL level. There are a lot of holes in the Blue Jackets' lineup, and Chinakhov will be gunning to fill one.
"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," said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. "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."
