The Boston Bruins are hoping to avoid missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again in 2026. Boston shockingly missed the postseason this past season after eight straight appearances prior to 2024-25. The Bruins added the likes of Tanner Jeannot and Viktor Arvidsson this summer. However, they stand to remain active before the 2025-26 NHL season.
Boston particularly struggled to score goals this past season. They had three 20+ goal scorers on their roster in 2024-25. One of them, then-captain Brad Marchand, was traded midseason. He went to the Florida Panthers at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, where he went on to win the Stanley Cup.
So far, the Bruins have not added a ton of scoring depth. The trade for Arvidsson should bring in some goals. However, other additions, such as Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, and Matej Blumel, do not project to add meaningful scoring depth for Boston.
As a result, they could look to the trade market. And as luck would have it, there was a young forward who recently put in a trade request. Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between the Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Boston Bruins acquire: Yegor Chinakhov
Columbus Blue Jackets acquire: John Beecher
Why Yegor Chinakhov Wants Trade From Blue Jackets
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesColumbus Blue Jackets winger Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade.
News of Chinakhov’s trade request came as a bit of a shock. At least, the way the news broke was a surprise. Chinakhov’s agent is the one who made the trade request public. And he cited Columbus head coach Dean Evason as the primary reason.
“(Chinakhov) is comfortable with this team. He’s comfortable with this city,” agent Shumi Babaev told The Athletic back on July 18th. “But he’s not comfortable with this coach. It’s all about the coach.”
The issue stems from Chinakhov’s usage during the 2024-25 season. He began the year on the top line. However, as the season wore on, the Blue Jackets fell down the lineup. He spent a lot of time on the third line, specifically.
“Any team in the NHL would say Chinny is a top-six player,” Babaev said. “If (Evason) doesn’t like him, then why not trade him. Why should you hold him? What’s the reason? It’s the best solution.”
Chinakhov Trade Value is Murky at Best
Chinakhov has the ability to produce at the NHL level. Even in a secondary capacity, there is an NHL-caliber player here. To this end, the Bruins would need to send something back to the Blue Jackets for the former first-round pick.
At the same time, his trade value is a bit complicated. There is upside to Chinakhov, and he could become an undisputed top-six player in this league. However, he has struggled with inconsistencies at the NHL level. And the public nature of his trade request strips some leverage from the Blue Jackets.
This trade proposal sees Columbus land forward John Beecher. Beecher is a 24-year-old forward who can play center and on the wing. He has not produced a ton of offense at the NHL level. But he did flash some offensive potential at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign. Furthermore, he is a willing checker and shot blocker.
Columbus may not do any better than a mid-to-late round pick. Beecher’s potential is not the same as Chinakhov’s. In saying this, he is an NHL-caliber forward in a bottom-six role. The Blue Jackets could take a swing on him while the Bruins make their gamble on Chinakhov’s potential.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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