The Toronto Maple Leafs still need another forward who can score, and one trade idea has them landing an intriguing forward.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Maple Leafs acquire Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Maple Leafs acquire:
Blue Jackets acquire:
- Nick Robertson
- 2027 fourth-round pick
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as Toronto would acquire Chinakhov, who’s a young forward who had requested a trade. In return, the Blue Jackets get a young forward and a draft pick.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Chinakhov, who’s 24 and can be Toronto’s second-line left winger. Chinakhov was selected in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft but has requested a trade as he hasn’t gotten the role he has wanted. The Russian is in the second year of his two-year, $4.2 million deal. He dealt with injuries last season, but he recorded 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points in 30 games.
In return, the Maple Leafs would also give up a young, disgruntled forward in Robertson, who could use a change of scenery. Robertson is an RFA and requested a trade last summer. He recorded 15 goals and 7 assists for 22 points in 69 games. Robertson would replace Chinakhov at left wing, but Toronto would have to add a draft pick, as Chinakhov was a first-round pick and a bit younger.
Chinakhov Requests Trade From Blue Jackets
Chinakhov requested trade from Columbus as his agent made the announcement on social media.
The former first-round pick was frustrated with his role, and his agent made the trade request public.
“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here,” Chinakhov’s agent, Shumi Babaev wrote.
Although Chinkahov has requested a trade, the Blue Jackets’ general manager Don Waddell responded to the request but said he wouldn’t trade him unless he gets fair value.
“I’m surprised (agent Shumi Babaev) went public,” Waddell said to The Athletic. “But I’m not surprised (about the trade request) because we’ve talked about it. He got back (from the back injury last season) and didn’t play well, and (Chinakhov and Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason) fell out of favor. I told (Babaev), he has value, I will talk to teams. I have talked to teams. But I’m not just going to trade him because you said to trade him.”
Chinakhov was a healthy scratch in 12 of the final 17 games after coming back from injury.
Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Toronto made a trade for bottom-six forward Dakota Joshua on July 17.
The Maple Leafs acquired Joshua for a fourth-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
“Dakota went through a lot last season before the year even started and we were very impressed in how he handled such a difficult off-ice situation,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “Once healthy, he tried hard to help the team in many ways, and we want to wish him the best moving forward in Toronto.”
Joshua has three years left on his four-year, $13 million deal. He recorded 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 57 games.
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