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Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell breaks silence on Yegor Chinakhov trade and Penguins' winning bid
Photo credit: The Daily Face-off
Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell broke his silence after trading former first round pick Yegor Chinakhov to the Pittsburgh Penguins this week for a package that included Danton Heinen and two draft picks.
The divisional foe Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins made a trade with one another earlier this week, as Columbus sent former first round pick Yegor Chinakhov to Pittsburgh for Danton Heinen and a pair of draft picks.
Chinakhov, who had been a healthy scratch over the last two games, was never able to play a full season with Columbus but will now have a chance to do so with the Penguins.
It was also the second trade that the Blue Jackets made this month, as they acquired Mason Marchment from the Seattle Kraken.
Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell broke his silence over the trade, saying that things changed for them in what they were willing to give up after the acquisition of Marchment.
When we got Marchment, for sure it changed. We were always pretty adamant that we wanted to get a player, and the players being offered - no disrespect to any of the teams - we just didn't think it was something that would help us.
Once we paid the (draft pick) capital to get Marchment, we were able to change our focus on what the return had to be. It brought more teams into it, too, because there were a lot of teams who were interested in the player (Chinakhov), but for picks, not somebody off their roster. - Don Waddell
Once we paid the (draft pick) capital to get Marchment, we were able to change our focus on what the return had to be. It brought more teams into it, too, because there were a lot of teams who were interested in the player (Chinakhov), but for picks, not somebody off their roster. - Don Waddell
Yegor Chinakhov Is A Former Blue Jackets First Round Pick
Chinakhov was taken by the Blue Jackets with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, and would play in 62 games during his rookie year in the NHL, scoring 14 points (7G, 7A).
But injuries kept him from playing in a full season during his time in Columbus, and they decided the time was right to cut ties with him following reported clashes with head coach Dean Evason, who is in his second year behind the Blue Jackets bench.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 148 ANSWERS Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell breaks silence on Yegor Chinakhov trade and Penguins' winning bid Did the Blue Jackets give up on Yegor Chinakhov too quickly? | ||
| Yes | 117 | 79.1 % |
| No | 31 | 20.9 % |
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