With the recent news of Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade and the uncertainty of if he will actually be moved, the Utah Mammoth should reach out and figure out where things stand.
After the off-season that they have had, adding another 24-year-old forward who could fit in with their current core would put the cherry on top of a great off-season.
As mentioned, there is no official word on if the Blue Jackets will deal him, but if they do, Utah will likely make themselves a front runner. Chinakhov's career-high came back in 2023-24 when he had 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 53 games.
Last season, he had 15 points in 30 games. He missed most of the season due to injuries. If he can stay healthy, there is a good chance that he can hit 40 to 50 points, potentially more if he plays with the right players.
In terms of the asking price, the Mammoth have a plethora of high-end prospects that could be of interest to the Blue Jackets. They also have draft picks that they could send to Columbus, depending on what the full deal looks like. Barrett Hayton could be a name that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell might want in return.
