Yegor Chinakhov wants out of Columbus, and the Buffalo Sabres, fresh off a move that sent JJ Peterka to Utah, have a glaring hole in their top-six. Connect the dots, and you get one of the most intriguing trade proposals floating around this summer. This isn’t just smoke; where there’s a public trade request and a clear team need, GMs start talking.
Sources close to the Blue Jackets indicate the relationship between Chinakhov and head coach Dean Evason is frayed, pushing the 24-year-old scoring winger to request a change of scenery. This is where it gets interesting for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. Columbus doesn’t have the leverage here. When a player publicly wants out, you rarely get equal value back. Enter the Sabres, who are unlikely to part with a key roster piece but could be willing to move a high-end prospect. That’s the core of this rumor: a potential one-for-one swap that could solve major headaches for both franchises.
Why a Chinakhov-for-Rosen Swap Makes Sense for Both Teams
From where I’m sitting, a deal centered around Sabres prospect Isak Rosen for Chinakhov has legs. For Buffalo, the logic is simple. You fill the immediate top-six void left by the Peterka trade with a player who has already proven he can score at the NHL level. Chinakhov possesses an elite-level shot and, despite inconsistencies, potted 16 goals last season. He’s young, skilled, and fits the Sabres’ timeline. It’s a calculated gamble that a new environment could unlock the potential that made him a first-round pick.
For Columbus, this is about turning a negative into a positive. The friction with Coach Evason makes Chinakhov’s presence a potential locker-room distraction. Instead of letting that fester into training camp, GM Don Waddell can recoup a valuable asset in Isak Rosen. Rosen is a skilled Swedish prospect who has shown promise in the AHL. While he isn’t the established NHLer Chinakhov is, he represents a fresh start and a piece that fits their rebuilding puzzle without the baggage.
Given their lack of leverage, getting a prospect of Rosen’s caliber might be the best return the Blue Jackets can hope for. It’s a classic NHL trade: a team with a roster problem swaps with a team that has a prospect surplus. Keep a close eye on the Yegor Chinakhov rumors; this one feels like it has a real chance of happening.
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