No way Yegor Chinakhov can stay in Columbus after trade request, agent says: ‘It's all about the coach'
'I don't think there's any way he can stay in Columbus,' Shumi Babaev said. 'I don't see any way.'
The issue, Babaev insisted, is Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason, who, he said, did not communicate with Chinakhov at any point during last season — not when he went down with a back injury in late November, not when he returned to the lineup in early March, and not when he was a healthy scratch for most of the final month of the season.
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'(Chinakhov) is comfortable with this team. He's comfortable with this city,' Babaev told The Athletic from Moscow. 'But he's not comfortable with this coach. It's all about the coach.
'If you remember, (Chinakhov) started the season on the first line and he was fantastic. And then he's on the third line, and that's it. Third line. The coach doesn't tell him anything. Why? Why would you do this? It should be something that should be (explained) about why he did this.
'I'm not saying how a coach should work. (I'm) just saying that for my player, it's not comfortable with the coach and (he feels like) the coach doesn't trust him.'
Asked if the relationship between Evason and Chinakhov could be repaired — either with an offseason phone call, or a face-to-face meeting in Columbus ahead of training camp — Babaev didn't sound optimistic.
'During the season, he didn't tell him anything,' Babaev said. ''China' said he didn't talk (to) him (about) anything the whole season, he just always said the assistant coaches would tell him everything. You think in 365 days it didn't change anything, but you think it's going to change now?
'I don't think so. Some coaches like players; some coaches like other players.'
Evason initially declined to comment when reached by The Athletic, allowing GM Don Waddell's comments on Thursday to speak for the club.
But through a team spokesman, he indicated that there were, in fact, conversations between him and Chinkahov, as well as his assistant coaches and the player.
Further, Evason said through the spokesman, 'The lines of communication are open, and they will continue to be open.'
Chinakhov was arguably the Blue Jackets' best forward in the first month of the season, drawing considerable time on the No. 1 line with center Sean Monahan and right winger Kirill Marchenko.
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When he went down with a back injury in late November, he had 7-7-14 in 21 games and was averaging 17 minutes, 1 second of ice time per game, the highest in his career. But the back injury knocked him out of the lineup for more than three months and was a source of much frustration for the club.
It marked the fourth straight season that Chinakhov has missed considerable time with an injury. In four seasons, he's missed 121 games, mostly with back and ankle injuries.
Chinakhov had a procedure done in Russia during the NHL's break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and was able to return to the lineup on March 4. He played in only nine games the rest of the way, totaling 0-1-1 and a minus-8 rating, and playing just 12:42.
When the Blue Jackets made a push toward the Stanley Cup playoffs — they won their final six games to finish two points out of the last playoff spot — Chinakhov was sitting as a healthy scratch.
'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.
'China wants to play in the NHL. He wants to win. He wants to help the team. He wants to try his best. But if the coach doesn't like him, how can he do that?'
Waddell said he's open to a trade, but only if he gets the right offer for Chinakhov. Otherwise, the expectation is that Chinakhov would arrive at training camp in September ready to compete and play. Babaev confirmed to The Athletic that Chinakhov will arrive on time to camp, and he said his back injury is 100 percent healed.
'It's not good that this (story) is coming to the media,' said Babaev, whose midday Thursday social media post alerted the hockey world to Chinakhov's interview with the Russian outlet Sports-Express, in which the trade request first landed.
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'Yegor just said what he thinks. He talked about his emotions, and that's fine. I've already talked to (Waddell). It was a good conversation. We both understand each other, and I understand Yegor is a very good player. It's not easy (for the Blue Jackets) to trade him. (Waddell) needs to get something for him.'
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