The need for speed.
NOTE: All quotes from Yegor Chinakov were translated from Russian to English by an in-person interpreter.
Over the past decade or so, the most important thing for a hockey player to have has gone from size and strength to speed and skill.
Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakov knows this.
“I came to the conclusion that speed was everything,” Chinakov told a Russian translator at practice on Monday. “I just need to do everything faster.”
Chinakov, a 21-year-old forward who scored seven goals and 14 points in 62 games last season as a rookie, led the NHL in preseason goals with six.
#CBJ Chinakov goal pic.twitter.com/Q53CcjddGF
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) October 8, 2022
It appears that the 21st overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft will get a chance to continue scoring goals for the Jackets as he’s slotted in as the second-line left-wing alongside Jack Roslovic and Jakub Voracek.
Doesn’t look like any changes have been made to it #CBJ lines today at practice as the 23-man group hits the ice.
13-38-29
59-96-93
14-34-17
50-7-24
8-27
4-2
22-44
Extras: 19, 91, 77— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) October 11, 2022
Chinakov said Voracek has helped him out since he arrived in Columbus.
“[Voracek] gave me plenty of advice last year,” Chinakov said. “I feel like I didn’t necessarily listen too well. And this year I feel like every single [piece of] advice actually works.”
Way too easy for Chinny pic.twitter.com/OtQQ0yPjOX
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 7, 2022
If the Jackets are going to make the playoffs, they are going to need Chinakov to take that ‘next step’ in his game. What does that look like? We will have to wait and see.
Since he scored at a nine-goal pace over an 82-game season last year, can we expect him to score at a 15-to-20-goal pace this season?
A 20-goal campaign is a realistic possibility when you think about pairing Chinakov’s skillset with a prolific passer like Voracek.
Chinakov’s second NHL season begins Wednesday night at 7 pm in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the Jackets take on the reigning Metro-champion Carolina Hurricanes.