Blue Jackets re-sign Chinakhov to 2-year, $4.2M deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed restricted free-agent winger Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year contract carrying an annual cap hit of $2.1 million, the team announced Friday.

He'll be an RFA at the end of the deal and can't become a UFA until 2028.

"Yegor is an outstanding young player who has shown steady improvement over his first three seasons with the organization," Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell said. "We believe he has a chance to be a very good player for us and are excited about his continued growth as a Blue Jacket."

Chinakhov enjoyed a breakout year in 2023-24, producing 16 goals and 13 assists in 53 games. His 16 goals were fourth on the team.

The Blue Jackets drafted Chinakhov 21st overall in 2020. The 23-year-old has recorded 56 points in 145 career games.

The signing is Waddell's first since being hired by the Blue Jackets on May 28. He has several other RFAs to take care of, including Alex Nylander, Alexandre Texier, Kirill Marchenko, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Jake Bean.