Forward Yegor Chinakhov will not make his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Dan Muse announced Chinakhov’s status following an optional morning skate in Cranberry.
The Penguins acquired Chinakhov in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday afternoon and he did not arrive in the area until Tuesday morning. In fact, he strolled into the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex with a Blue Jackets equipment bag and several sticks just as his new teammates were concluding the morning skate.
“He just got in after the pregame skate started,” Must said. “We wanted him to just have a chance to get acclimated, meet with teammates, meet with coaches, go over things. Give him an opportunity here to just kind of get settled in.”
The 24-year-old Chinakhov (6-foot-1, 203 pounds) traveled from Ottawa, Ontario, where the Blue Jackets played the Senators on Monday evening.
In exchange for Chinakhov, the Penguins sent forward Danton Heinen and draft picks in 2026 (second round) and 2027 (third round) to the Blue Jackets.
A left-handed shot, Chinakhov had six points (three goals, three assists) in 29 games while averaging 10:18 of ice time per contest for the Blue Jackets this season.
Notes:
• Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game.
In 26 games this season, Skinner has an 11-11-4 record, a 2.98 goals-against average, an .885 save percentage and two shutouts.
Since arriving in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12, Skinner has played in three games for the Penguins and posted a 0-3-0 record, a 4.18 goals-against average and an .831 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Skinner has faced the Blue Jackets in six games and generated a 3-2-1 record, a 3.22 goals- against average and an .881 save percentage.
• Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is slated to be available for the contest after being withheld from Monday’s practice session as a precaution due to an unspecified illness.
Since arriving via a trade in August of 2023, Karlsson has never missed a game for the Penguins. His 201 consecutive games are the longest active streak for the team.
• Penguins forward Connor Dewar is expected to be available for the game as well. He left Monday’s practice prematurely after being struck by a stick near his face.
• Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves is designated as “non-roster” and is scheduled to be placed on waivers at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Should he go unclaimed, he can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Having previously cleared waivers Oct. 4, Graves opened the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and skated in 10 games with that club, posting seven points (one goal, six assists).
Recalled to the NHL roster Nov. 4, Graves primarily skated on the left side of the third pairing and has scored one goal in 17 games while averaging 15:19 of ice time. He has been a healthy scratch for the past six games.
Graves, 30, is in the third year of a six-year contract that carries a salary cap hit of $4.5 million. With an assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, $1.15 million of his salary cap hit will come off the books for the NHL club per league rules.
• Penguins defenseman Brett Kulak has 99 career assists.
• The Hurricanes did not hold a morning skate after traveling overnight following a 3-2 home overtime win against the New York Rangers on Monday.
• The Hurricanes are expected to start goaltender Frederik Andersen in Tuesday’s game.
In 15 games this season, Andersen has a 5-8-2 record, a 3.27 goals-against average and an .869 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Andersen has faced the Penguins in 14 games and has posted a 7-5-0 record, a 2.24 goals- against average, a .931 save percentage and two shutouts.
• The scheduled referees are Corey Syvret (No. 23) and Brandon Blandina (No. 39) while the linesmen are Ryan Daisy (No. 81) and Brandon Grillo (No. 75).