Maple Leafs Linked to Former First-Rounder Who Wants Out of Columbus
Photo credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, Yegor Chinakhov is on the Toronto Maple Leafs radar as they also try to trade one of their own in Nick Robertson.
It has been a rough season for the Toronto Maple Leafs to start, not only because they are at a middling 3-3-1 record with some pretty brutal performances as of late, but they are dealing with some serious injuries to key players like Chris Tanev, and Joseph Woll's return still up in the air.
The team has made a lot of changes to their lineup, and not much success has come about, so what else can the team do?
Toronto Revisits Earlier Conversations With Columbus
Well, they might need to tinker with the roster some more and bring in some more new faces who have either a lot more upside, or reliable and consistent production in order to turn things around.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, they could look to one target who are currently being shopped; that being Yegor Chinakhov and Lukas Reichel:
Toronto is investigating options for Nick Robertson. At some point in the summer, they pitched a move for Yegor Chinakhov, but that wasn't to the Blue Jackets' liking.
That file remains open in Columbus, however. The Maple Leafs are struggling, which can't be considered an enormous surprise with all the heavy lifting Mitch Marner did in their lineup.
That's a big role to fill, and it's going to take multiple people to do it, unless they do acquire the top six forward they've been chasing.
That file remains open in Columbus, however. The Maple Leafs are struggling, which can't be considered an enormous surprise with all the heavy lifting Mitch Marner did in their lineup.
That's a big role to fill, and it's going to take multiple people to do it, unless they do acquire the top six forward they've been chasing.
It also comes off the heels of NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun mentioning that the Maple Leafs as well as several other teams were keeping tabs on Chinakhov's future in Columbus:
More and more calls coming in on Yegor Chinakhov; among the teams that we believe have checked in...the Maple Leafs, Detroit, Florida, Buffalo...for sure the Flames; the Jackets don't wanna just dump this guy.
Perhaps there's a good shot that Toronto decides to part with some prospects and picks in order to bring both Chinakhov aboard; or maybe a 1-for-1 involving Nick Robertson who was just scratched on Friday.
Would Yegor Chinakhov Actually Fit in Toronto?
Chinakhov is similar to Robertson as they both haven't necessarily produced up to their expectations, but Chinakhov offers a bit more versatility and upside.
The former is a 6-1, 200 pound winger who doesn't mind throwing hits, and does have some clear offensive potential, with a 29-point season in 2022-23 (53 games) but fell out of favor with head coach Dean Evason and has led to diminishing ice time.
Plus he fits in the physical mould for the Maple Leafs, as they would prefer to have a bigger body in the lineup.
Drafted 21st overall by the Blue Jackets in 2020, Chinakhov has 72 points in 178 games (34 goals, 38 assists).
If the team were to acquire Chinakhov, it would at least give Toronto a new look over Robertson, a player who has failed to live up to his hype and has given the front office headaches for years.
He needs a fresh start, and Toronto can dish him off to Columbus however, with Lukas Reichel being traded for only a fourth-round pick, it's going to take more than just Robertson unless Columbus is truly fed up with Chinakhov.
With the team debatably looking as bad as we've seen in recent years, and a lot of work needing to be done, it might be in the Toronto Maple Leafs' best interest to field an offer.
At this point, they have to try anything to see what sticks.
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