The Pittsburgh Penguins' decision to trade for Egor Chinakhov this past season was undoubtedly a great one. The 25-year-old forward immediately broke out after being traded to Pittsburgh, posting 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games. Due to his excellent play, the Penguins signed him to a three-year, $18.75 million contract extension earlier this summer.

Clearly, Chinakhov needed a change of scenery from the Columbus Blue Jackets before being acquired by the Penguins. In the end, the move has benefited him, as he now has a prominent role in Pittsburgh. Now, the 2020 first-round pick will be looking to build off his breakout year in 2026-27 from here. 

When looking at how well Chinakhov performed for the Penguins last season, it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future with the Metropolitan Division club. He showed this season that he can be a true top-six winger, and the Penguins will now be relying on him heavily for offense in 2026-27 because of it. 

If Chinakhov can take another step forward with his development next season, it would be huge for a Penguins club that will be looking to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he has from here.