The Columbus Blue Jackets nearly made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. They put in a very respectable challenge late in the season. However, they fell short and have spent their 2025 offseason trying to improve the roster. Unfortunately, the biggest news out of Columbus is Yegor Chinakhov’s trade request.
Chinakhov is a former first-round pick of the Blue Jackets. The Columbus forward has shown flashes on the ice over the last few seasons. However, he has yet to put it all together on the ice. In saying this, he is only 24, and he does have a 16-goal season under his belt.
It does not appear at this time that staying in Columbus is an option. Chinakhov’s agent has gone on record saying he is not comfortable with the coaching staff. Mainly, the issues lie between the 24-year-old former first-round pick and current head coach Dean Evason.
As a result, the Blue Jackets are likely to check the trade market. A trade involving a player with Chinakhov’s potential is a bit tricky. There are a lot of moving variables that can make things difficult.
However, there is an avenue for Columbus to make a proverbial “hockey trade.” Instead of trading a young player for young player, they could broaden into a more ambitious deal. With this in mind, Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between Columbus and the Seattle Kraken.
Seattle Kraken acquire: Yegor Chinakhov, Erik Gudbranson, and a 2027 third-round pick owned by the Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets acquire: Ryker Evans and Jaden Schwartz
Kraken’s Ryker Evans Could Be Blocked From Larger Role
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesSeattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans may be blocked from a top-four role in 2025-26.
The Kraken certainly would like to keep Evans. He has emerged as one of their better young players over the years. However, there are some factors that make a trade at least in the realm of possibility.
Evans played his first full season with Seattle in 2024-25. He scored five goals and 25 points through 73 games. On the defensive side, he made significant strides and seemingly improved nearly every game.
However, the 23-year-old remains without a contract. He is a restricted free agent, which means Seattle still retains his rights. In saying this, he may be blocked from a larger role in Seattle. The Kraken signed Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract, making him the presumptive second-line defender on the left side.
Trading Evans to the Blue Jackets, or any team, is not ideal. However, this proposal lands Seattle a young winger with upside. The Kraken have had success developing wingers over the last few seasons. And they could work their magic with Chinakhov in 2025-26.
Blue Jackets’ Yegor Chinakhov Could Thrive in Seattle
As mentioned, this is not the first time the Kraken have pursued a young winger needing a change of scenery. These sorts of moves have worked wonders for them in the past. And this trade idea with the Blue Jackets continues the trend.
Last season, Seattle traded for Kaapo Kakko in a deal with the New York Rangers. The former second-overall pick went on to score 10 goals and 30 points in 49 games with Seattle following the move out West.
In 2022-23, the Kraken claimed winger Eeli Tolvanen off waivers from the Nashville Predators. Tolvanen did not work out after being a first-round pick of Nashville in 2017. However, he has since scored 55 goals and 103 points for Seattle in 210 games.
Chinakhov has the potential to play a top-six role. And he already has shown that he can score at a decent clip. Things did not work out with the Blue Jackets, but this trade idea could work for all parties involved.
Blue Jackets Trade Idea Sends Disgruntled Forward to West Coast