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Dan Muse praises new arrival Yegor Chinkhov after breakout debut performance


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Jack Sutherland
January 3, 2026  (5:07 PM)
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Penguins' Yegor Chinakhov
Photo credit: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Yegor Chinakhov, who was acquired earlier in the week from the divisional foe Blue Jackets, has his first goal in a Penguins sweater since the trade.

The era of Yegor Chinakhov with the Pittsburgh Penguins is officially underway after he was acquired in a trade earlier in the week from the divisional foe Columbus Blue Jackets, and now he has a keepsake.
He scored his first goal in a Penguins sweater today, helping beat the Red Wings 4-1.
The Penguins have now won four straight after what was a rough month of December which also included what is now the worst home-stand in franchise history.
Chinakhov's goal, which came in his second game in a Penguins sweater, should help him get further acclimated to Pittsburgh per head coach Dan Muse.
Yeah, I think it helps. You don't want it to get to the point where you get some chances, and now you're starting to think about it. I mean, I think he's done a good job just going out there and playing. I said the first game for him was just a lot of special teams, a lot of penalty kills. So, it was tougher to get into the game for him. I thought it was a little bit easier tonight. I think in both games, though, you see the shot, the obvious. - Dan Muse

With his goal, Chinakhov now has seven points (4G, 3A) this year split between Columbus and Pittsburgh.

Yegor Chinakhov Was Acquired From The Columbus Blue Jackets

Chinakhov, who was taken by the Blue Jackets with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was traded to the Penguins earlier in the week.
The Penguins traded Danton Heinen, a second round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and a third round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft to Columbus for Chinakhov, who now has a fresh start after things didn't work out for him with the Blue Jackets.
He now has 78 points (38G, 40A) in his NHL career.
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Dan Muse praises new arrival Yegor Chinkhov after breakout debut performance

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