The NHL's holiday trade freeze has been lifted, and that means the rumor mill is ready to be fed some coal so that the hot stove can start burning again. With that in mind, The Athletic decided to look at some trade targets for each team in the league. A veteran name was mentioned as a possibility for the Blueshirts, but the name that was ultimately assigned to them is one that would represent an opportunity that could be a great fit even if the rest of this season goes off the rails. With that in mind, let's dive a little deeper on their pick, and why it would be something that Chris Drury should consider pursuing.
Yegor Chinakhov is a young buy-low option that makes more sense than Bryan Rust
Rust was a player briefly mentioned in the story based on his established history with Mike Sullivan, but that idea was downplayed given his age and the team's recent history with adding veterans past their prime. Chinakhov would represent the opposite, and would be a classic throwback to the type of shopping Glen Sather loved to do when he ran the Rangers.
To this point in his career, Chinakhov hasn't amounted to much in Columbus. His one season of note was during the 2023-24 season, and it saw him scored 16 goals and add 13 assists for 29 points in 53 games. Since that point he put up 15 points in 30 games last season, and he's got a line of 3-3-6 in 29 contests this year. In total he's scored 37 goals and added 40 assists for a whopping 77 points in 204 games averaging 13:28 a game. This year he's logging 10:18 a game, and he's overdue for a change of scenery.
The stats the Rangers should be looking at for Chinakhov
I wouldn't blame you if you saw his name and his top line statistics and were skeptical about the impact he could potentially have on the team. That said, some of his NHL EDGE stats are impressive, and it is those physical tools that could allow him to take things to a new level in a better system and situation.
This season he's in the 99th percentile for hardest shot, and his top recorded shot came in at 99.03 MPH. He's also in the 98th percentile for shots in excess of 90 MPH, something that is quite impressive. The other numbers that are of more importance to the Rangers include his speed, specifically a 91st percentile ranking for speed.
This year his top recorded speed is 22.88 MPH, and that is something the Rangers need more of. In terms of speed bursts, his 66 bursts above 20 MPH puts him in the 83rd percentile, and it's impressive to see he's been able to be this explosive while having such limited minutes. To put this in perspective, here's how he compares to some current top six forwards on the roster.
- Yegor Chinkahov - 13.3 speed bursts per 60 minutes | 22.88 MPH Max Speed
- Vincent Trocheck - 5.9 speed bursts per 60 minutes | 22.57 MPH Max Speed
- Alexis Lafrenière - 5.6 speed bursts per 60 minutes | 22.14 MPH Max Speed
- Mika Zibanejad - 5.0 speed bursts per 60 minutes | 22.32 MPH Max Speed
If you look at his speed and shot strength in tandem, it makes him an appealing fit for the Rangers because he'd represent something different. The team as constructed is pretty slow and isn't generating significant shot volume. Chinakhov's speed would allow the Rangers to improve their transition game, and because he's got such a powerful shot he'd be in a position to get pucks on net and not as easily blocked.
The Rangers as a team ranked in the bottom portion of the league for total shots over 90 MPH (18 total) so adding Chinakhov would immediately help them improve. With the Rangers struggling to generate volume and being kept to the perimeter, a player with a howitzer like Chinakhov could make the offense less predictable and stale.
It is worth the risk, and the Rangers should ultimately consider it
He turns 25 in February and is in the second year of a deal that pays him $2.1 million a season, so the Rangers would have him as a cost controlled player for at least a few seasons. While it is true that the Rangers need an established game-breaker as they prepare for a future that may not include Artemi Panarin, they don't have a ton of assets to work with. With that in mind, they would be smart to see how they can add players with attributes that would be a fit, and try and build them up to improve the overall team.
At his best, Chinakhov was on a 45 point pace, and that's something the team can work with going forward. His addition would be similar to that of Frank Vatrano and Jack Roslovic, two moves that were solid in theory, and players who went onto other teams and had success. We know that the Rangers need help, and if they are looking to try things that keep their options open, Chinakhov truly would be a move that represents the best of both worlds.