RW Yegor Chinakhov (2020, 21st, CBJ)

[Tasteless Beaver]

I hope he can punch faces at an NHL level. CBJ's GM is the guy who passed on Puljujarvi, and the team has been making some noise in the playoffs, so maybe he saw something very specific that the team lacked the past 2 years. I want this one to work because the drafting system is way too clinical these days.

 

[Crede777]

When Portzline interviewed Jarmo on Monday about who they were going to take, Jarmo said "Don't even try to guess."

Seems like he was right.

Edit - Added here is a tweet with the article and quote:

 

[Atas2000]

can confirm he did not lol. he followed the jackets on instagram the second he got drafted!

He has no game to play until Saturday. Nothing wrong with staying up for the show.

 

[VanillaCoke]

Had him in the late rounds last year, and was surprised he went undrafted. Was more surprised he went overdrafted this year! But excited to keep following him along the next few years

 

[Atas2000]

Wow, either their scouting staff knows something no one else does, or they’re all gonna be out of jobs

More like Jarmo not being a good poker player. With an overager he easily could have banked on taking him in later rounds. That's not to say that Chinakhov is not going to be an effective NHLer someday(and that's not every late 1st rounder's future).

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

When Portzline interviewed Jarmo on Monday about who they were going to take, Jarmo said "Don't even try to guess."

Seems like he was right.

"You've probably never heard of him..."

Jarmo is a smarmy hipster confirmed

 

[Killerjas]

Picking an overageR with just 1 good season at 21st overall. Big yikes. Had him going after the 3rd round, most scouts did.

 

[Flynn84]

I believe he has a lot of tools, not sure, what is his biggest flaws? Other than being an overager. I was kinda surprised that he was rated as a 3rd rounder at best. Another thing that hes got like 2 or 3 inches taller than he was last season. That's probably strengthen his positions.

I'm actually more surprised by picking Mukhamadulin at 20.

 

[simonedvinsson]

I believe he has a lot of tools, not sure, what is his biggest flaws? Other than being an overager. I was kinda surprised that he was rated as a 3rd rounder at best. Another thing that hes got like 2 or 3 inches taller than he was last season. That's probably strengthen his positions.

I'm actually more surprised by picking Mukhamadulin at 20.

I agree with all of this. I think New Jersey was set on Schneider, which explains New York trading up to get him, and New Jersey settles for the next defenseman on their list, although I find that rather unlikely in hindsight*.

After drafting Mercer, I was really hoping New Jersey would pick up Lapierre. Those two are amazing together. Can’t really fault them for going defense, but I wasn’t expecting Mukha...n to go in the top forty. Granted, I haven’t seen him play much, but from everything I’d read, I had him penciled lower.

Chinakhov is an exciting player. I’m not sure how he didn’t get drafted last year. Could Columbus have traded back and added a second? Almost certainly. They probably could’ve rolled back into the second round and gotten two or three picks out of it, but whatever. He was in their top ten, supposedly. If that’s true, they probably felt they couldn’t afford to trade back.

*edit: hindsight on 2020​

 

[OilCanada92]

I'd love to see where he was on every other team's list. I wonder if Columbus didn't trade down because they weren't the only team looking at him.

 

[SwissMountaineer]

I believe he has a lot of tools, not sure, what is his biggest flaws? Other than being an overager. I was kinda surprised that he was rated as a 3rd rounder at best. Another thing that hes got like 2 or 3 inches taller than he was last season. That's probably strengthen his positions.

To be honest, I've always actually wondered how little the hockey world seems to understand about human biology. Some prospects are fully grown men with a beard at 16, whereas others are physically kids until they hit 20. If someone dominates the juniors because his physical age is 2-4 years ahead of the others (and not only the height), there's a chance that he will not be a major contributor when the others catch up. Of course he will be hyped, he will get more chances than most others, but in the end he might be seen as "bust", even when he did reach his full potential.

Personally I don't see being an over-ager any flaw at all. In this case it's just one year, and how many 2019 picks have already played in the show? So far 5. If Chinakhov makes it next season, he's still way ahead of most 2019 picks, not to mention 2020.

And all the dissing around him, just because he reached full height only at 19. Which is perfectly normal for a healthy young man.

 

[jonlin]

Wow, either their scouting staff knows something no one else does, or they’re all gonna be out of jobs

Whene every GM in the NHL would have picked Puljujärvi at #3, Jarmo took PLD. How did that pan out? Jarmo is a GM, but he is also a scout who has a lot of experience

 

[Kshahdoo]

To be honest, I've always actually wondered how little the hockey world seems to understand about human biology. Some prospects are fully grown men with a beard at 16, whereas others are physically kids until they hit 20. If someone dominates the juniors because his physical age is 2-4 years ahead of the others (and not only the height), there's a chance that he will not be a major contributor when the others catch up. Of course he will be hyped, he will get more chances than most others, but in the end he might be seen as "bust", even when he did reach his full potential.

Personally I don't see being an over-ager any flaw at all. In this case it's just one year, and how many 2019 picks have already played in the show? So far 5. If Chinakhov makes it next season, he's still way ahead of most 2019 picks, not to mention 2020.

And all the dissing around him, just because he reached full height only at 19. Which is perfectly normal for a healthy young man.

He does a very good progress as well. Went from 0.45 PPG to 1.20 PPG in the MHL in one season, and now doing great in the KHL, while someone like Khovanov can't make the KHL at all.

 

[Albatros]

More like Jarmo not being a good poker player. With an overager he could easily could have banked on taking him in later rounds. That's not to say that Chinakhov is not going to be an effective NHLers someday(and not every late 1st rounder's future).

If they considered him the best player available then why waste the pick on someone else and risk losing the player you wanted most? The danger seems more significant than the potential benefit. Poker for poker's sake is not worth it.

 

[Sam of Montreal]

The kid probably slept through himself getting picked. No one ranked him in the first round

I doubt he received 31 NHL caps before yesterday's event.

 

[koteka]

Jarmo must trust the people the Jackets have scouting Russia. And with Gavrikov in Columbus plus Marchenko, Tarasov, and Voronkov all looking like solid picks, who can blame him? If I was scouting Russia for another team, I would be handing out some rubles in exchange for information on who the Blue Jackets were watching and talking with.

 

[Atas2000]

If they considered him the best player available then why waste the pick on someone else and risk losing the player you wanted most? The danger seems more significant than the potential benefit. Poker for poker's sake is not worth it.

Best player available is one thing. Reputation, common practice and other GM's thoughts are what matters. How often does an overager get drafted in the first? I doubt other teams were that eager to get him to "waste" a first on him. It's about patience. Look at how Tampa outplayed everyone with Kucherov and Point. Obviously they were high on the players, but also played it cool predicting the other teams to pass on them correctly. Now they have their Cup raised by their top offensive duo drafted late in the second and third.

 

[bert]

Wow, either their scouting staff knows something no one else does, or they’re all gonna be out of jobs

All they do is draft well. They aint getting fired even if they miss. Jarmo drafted Alfie, Havlat, Hossa, Dubois, Texier, Foudy etc etc.

Picking an overage with just 1 good season at 21st overall. Big yikes. Had him going after the 3rd round, most scouts did.

You probably know better than Kekkalainen.

 

[bert]

To be honest, I've always actually wondered how little the hockey world seems to understand about human biology. Some prospects are fully grown men with a beard at 16, whereas others are physically kids until they hit 20. If someone dominates the juniors because his physical age is 2-4 years ahead of the others (and not only the height), there's a chance that he will not be a major contributor when the others catch up. Of course he will be hyped, he will get more chances than most others, but in the end he might be seen as "bust", even when he did reach his full potential.

Personally I don't see being an over-ager any flaw at all. In this case it's just one year, and how many 2019 picks have already played in the show? So far 5. If Chinakhov makes it next season, he's still way ahead of most 2019 picks, not to mention 2020.

And all the dissing around him, just because he reached full height only at 19. Which is perfectly normal for a healthy young man.

Bingo everyone develops are different ages. Thats why Rossi dropped he is very far along in his development physically and is already small.

 

[ViD]

Best player available is one thing. Reputation, common practice and other GM's thoughts are what matters. How often does an overager get drafted in the first? I doubt other teams were that eager to get him to "waste" a first on him. It's about patience. Look at how Tampa outplayed everyone with Kucherov and Point. Obviously they were high on the players, but also played it cool predicting the other teams to pass on them correctly. Now they have their Cup raised by their top offensive duo drafted late in the second and third.

Or Kucherov and Point were not on the top of their list.
Chinakhov was ranked 10 in Columbus priority list and was the best one available at 21. Jarmo said it’s not in his principles to trade down risking losing a player, one other GM said Chinakhov was 28th in their list

 

[Atas2000]

Or Kucherov and Point were not on the top of their list.
Chinakhov was ranked 10 in Columbus priority list and was the best one available at 21. Jarmo said it’s not in his principles to trade down risking losing a player, one other GM said Chinakhov was 28th in their list

As I have stated already, I understand the logic behind the pick. I do not necessarily think though there wasn't a chance to get the same player later in the draft.

It can easily become a prcedence. If Columbus gets a gem with the pick, look out for teams in the future being more bold about picking fast progressing oveargares early.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

"You've probably never heard of him..."

Jarmo is a smarmy hipster confirmed

Jarmo is a classic "smartest guy in the room" type. Sometimes that pays off in talent evaluation and other (many) times ot results in less than desirable outcomes.

 

[Monk]

As I have stated already, I understand the logic behind the pick. I do not necessarily think though there wasn't a chance to get the same player later in the draft.

It can easily become a prcedence. If Columbus gets a gem with the pick, look out for teams in the future being more bold about picking fast progressing oveargares early.

Another team's scout said they had Chinakhov at 28. I'll see if I can find the link I saw last night.

EDIT:



Also:

“With all due respect, we have our scouts for a reason and that’s who we believe in,” said Blue Jackets GM and NHL cowboy Jarmo Kekalainen. “And their list is the most important thing. We’ve been watching this guy and following this guy all year and he was very high on our list. We didn’t want to take a chance of moving back, even though we considered it long and hard. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that if you want a guy and he’s really the only guy that you have that high and separates himself from the other group of players that’s still available, you take him.”

Sure sounds like Jarmo doesn't think he's the smartest guy in the room - rather, he trusts his scouts and respects their hard work.

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/who-the-hell-is-yegor-chinakhov

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

I dont hate the prospect. I do think Jarmo could have moved down at least a few more picks and got a 3rd rounder like other gms were doing. I get there is a bit of risk in doing that, but even if one GM had him at 28th, that means Jarmo could have moved down a few picks for sure.

 

[Long Live Lyle]

I think all the “trade back” people aren’t accounting for how much they loved Chinakhov. He was in their top 10. I’m guessing by that point, no other player on the board at 21 was in their top 15.

Jarmo indicated he has no problem trading back if he has a chunk of players ranked closely; if he had Chinakhov rated 17th, Lapierre 18th, Perrault 19th and Zary 20th, he prob would’ve traded back from 21 to 24 and gotten an extra 3rd round pick, even if he ended up with Zary and have been okay with that. But when you have that much separation between your top available and your number two available, you don’t take the risk.