The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly among the teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Columbus Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported during Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading that Chinakhov’s name has been floating around in the trade market because he has gotten limited playing time to begin the season. He has only played in three games at the time of filing, recording one assist and averaging 8:41 minutes per game as he has been deployed on the fourth line.

LeBrun noted that 26 scouts were in attendance for the Blue Jackets’ game against the Colorado Avalanche, a likely indication that interested parties are gathering notes to share with their respective teams on the current state of Chinakhov’s game. The reason why the Leafs are in the mix is due to the fact that they are seeking an upgrade up front. Other teams that LeBrun says are interested include the Calgary Flames, the Buffalo Sabres, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Florida Panthers. While it is unclear exactly what it would take to acquire his services, LeBrun reported that Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell would prefer to do a hockey trade given the fact that the team is an injury away from needing the player back in the top-nine.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman later reported in his latest 32 Thoughts article on Thursday that the Leafs made a trade pitch for Chinakhov during the offseason that included Nick Robertson. The Blue Jackets ultimately rejected the offer, but Friedman noted that the file remains open on that front.

Chinakhov made shockwaves during the 2025 offseason when his agent, Shumi Babaev, posted on X that the player had requested a trade due to a lack of communication with Columbus head coach Dean Evason in regards to his spot in the lineup. At the time, Babaev stated that Chinakhov would honour his contract if nothing materialized over the summer, but would prefer to continue his career elsewhere so he had a better opportunity to play.

It appears that nothing has changed regarding his spot on the team, hence why he is now in trade rumours at this point in the season. Yet it makes sense why teams like the Leafs would be interested in taking a chance on him beyond the fact that he was a former first-round pick in 2020.

Chinakhov is gifted with a wicked shot, strong offensive instincts, and speed to burn. His defensive game, while far from perfect, has also seen improvements since making the move over to North America. The one concern teams will have is his durability as Chinakhov has never gone through a season fully healthy to this point in his career, with the most games played being 62 in 2021-22. He missed significant time last season due to a back injury, and got frequently scratched down the stretch even once he had recovered.

The Leafs fit the bill of a team that would make sense as the winner of the Chinakhov sweepstakes for a number of reasons. Head coach Craig Berube is straightforward with his directions and players know where they stand with him, which goes a long way in building trust. The medical staff would be able to help keep Chinakhov feeling healthy for longer while addressing other underlying ailments that may be bothering him. And given the Leafs’ needs to add up front, there will be opportunities for him to make an impact offensively.

If the Blue Jackets prefer to do a hockey trade, then the logical option for the Leafs to include as the return piece is Robertson. Multiple insiders, including TSN’s Darren Dreger, have reported that the forward is in trade rumours and seeking a different opportunity because of a lack of a solidified role on the team. A hypothetical deal would see both teams get to move disgruntled players off their roster and give each of them a fresh start while adding a different element to their respective lineups.

While it is unclear if a trade will actually materialize, it nonetheless makes sense why Brad Treliving would reportedly be checking in on Chinakhov.