Trade Request Opens Door for Maple Leafs to Land Young Top-Six Forward

According to Chinakhov's agent, Shumi Babaev, the 24-year-old Russian winger has requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, citing challenges with the team's head coach, Dean Evason.

Via Babaev, Chinakhov is looking to continue his NHL career with another team, and is focused on remaining in the league rather than a return to Russia and the KHL.

Chinakhov, who is in his fourth season with the Blue Jackets, had seven goals and 15 points in just 30 games, missing a majority of the season due to a back injury.

Undrafted in his NHL Draft year, Chinakhov was a surprise first round pick as an overager in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, selected by Columbus 21st overall.

According to Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline of 'The Athletic', Columbus is aware on Chinakhov's ask to leave the team, but are not rushing a deal in order to finalize a trade, but will look for the best offer and expect Chinakhov to be with the team for training camp.

A move for Yegor Chinakhov could finally be the top-six forward addition the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for.

Toronto already added potential pieces as a replacement for Mitch Marner in Matias Maccelli and Nicolas Roy, neither of whom are guaranteed to be able to handle being direct top-six players.

Although as well Chinakhov is not a a guaranteed top-six forward either due to his injury concerns.

He'll have to show he can both rebound from his absences and be able to consistently provide offense for Toronto. In some ways Chinakhov has similar questions to Maccelli.

Toronto has reportedly still been linked to the free agent market with rumors persisting about a potential deal with top remaining UFA Jack Roslovic, but nothing has come to fruition as of yet.

If Chinakhov can't replicate his offense or stay at full health, making a commitment to him becomes a question, but he's young and on a favorable contract making $2.1M until 2026.

Finding the right top-six option was never going to be easy for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and less so after not splashing their money on day one of free agency, but still have a few intriguing options that at best provide real promise to become key players at a valuable price.