Yegor Chinakhov had a succinct way of describing the first day of 2026.
“A new page, a new year,” he said. “That’s it.”
On Thursday, Chinakhov opened a new chapter of his NHL career as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, he is scheduled to make his debut with the Penguins in Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena.
During a morning skate in Cranberry, Chinakhov skated on the right wing of the third line and operated on the second power-play unit.
He physically arrived in Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning but was held out of the team’s 5-1 home win against the Carolina Hurricanes that night to allow him to acclimate to his new surroundings.
“I’m so excited,” Chinakhov said. “I watched the last game. They played pretty good, didn’t they? I just want to help them win the games.”
Chinakhov didn’t win much in Columbus, having never qualified for the playoffs. Nor did he meet the expectations typically foisted upon a player with his pedigree. A first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) in 2020, he spent five seasons with the Blue Jackets, establishing modest career highs with 16 goals and 29 assists during the 2023-24 season.
After an injury-filled 2024-25 season, Chinakhov requested a trade during the ensuing offseason, citing “misunderstandings” with coach Dean Evason.
On Thursday, he wasn’t terribly eager to discuss his history with the Blue Jackets.
“It’s pretty hard times,” Chinakhov said. “Just hope everything is done. Just a new page.
“I tried to already forget everything.”
Penguins management seemed to remember the skill the 24-year-old offered as a promising prospect at the start of the decade and that’s what prompted Monday’s transaction.
“Real high skillset, really good shot, quick release,” coach Dan Muse said. “You could even see that there in the pregame skate today. He really gets it off when he gets a little time and space. He doesn’t need much time and space, but if he gets into those areas, really dangerous shot. He can play with pace, play at both ends of the ice.
“Obviously, coming into this game, he’ll have a couple new linemates, new team. But I think it’s just getting back to those things that drive his game, (have) shown that they can drive his game in the past, getting to good areas there offensively. And, yeah, I think just playing a fast, north game.”
Chinakhov is eager for a quick start with his new team.
“It’s pretty emotional,” Chinakhov said. “Just happy for that. Try to already be ready for the game.”
Crosby remembers MacDonald
How big a deal was Lowell MacDonald?
Sidney Crosby thought he was a big deal since they were both from Nova Scotia and relatively few NHLers have come from there.
Mr. McDonald was a two-time All-Star with the Penguins and part of the vaunted Century Line.
RIP. https://t.co/N7lbsf71K6pic.twitter.com/jANEab4N1Y
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) December 31, 2025
Former Penguins forward Lowell MacDonald died on Sunday at the age of 84. A two-time All-Star, MacDonald was a member of the Penguins’ celebrated “Century Line” along with Syl Apps and Jean Pronovost during the 1970s.
As one of the first Nova Scotians to become a star in the NHL, he meant quite a bit to hockey fans in his province, including the biggest star ever from Nova Scotia, Sidney Crosby.
“It’s a real sense of pride,” the Penguins captain said. “With Nova Scotia, there wasn’t a ton of players that came out of there. You knew the history, you knew who those guys were, you looked up to those guys. So, the fact that there was a Pittsburgh connection there was obviously pretty special.”
MacDonald’s son, also named Lowell MacDonald, was a long-time producer for Penguins television broadcasts before retiring last year. As such, Crosby and the MacDonalds became acquaintances.
“Just a great man,” Crosby said. “A proud Nova Scotian as well. You always appreciate the guys that you looked up to and kind of paved the way. And he’s definitely one of them.”