Chinakhov, 22, was the club's first pick, 21st overall at the 2020 NHL Draft. He has registered 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points with 26 penalty minutes and 142 shots on goal in 92 career NHL games with Columbus since making his NHL debut in 2021-22.
"Yegor has shown great improvement this season despite missing considerable time over the past few months due to injury," said Kekalainen. "He is a talented player with a great work ethic and desire to improve, and we are very excited about his future with the Blue Jackets."
Chinakhov tallied 4-9-13 with 10 penalty minutes and 44 shots on goal in 30 games with the Blue Jackets this season prior to suffering an ankle injury vs. Dallas on December 19 and missing the club's next 29 outings. Loaned to Cleveland on February 27, the 6-1, 204-pound winger has collected 3-5-8 with three power play goals, 27 shots on goal and a +4 plus/minus rating in seven contests with the Monsters. As a rookie in 2021-22, he tallied 7-7-14 with 16 penalty minutes and 98 shots on goal in 62 games with Columbus.
The Omsk, Russia native notched 10-7-17 with six penalty minutes in 32 regular season games for Avangard Omsk in Russia's KHL in 2020-21 and captured the league's Rookie of the Year award. He added 5-2-7 and 24 penalty minutes in 21 playoff games to help the club win the 2021 Gagarin Cup. He also represented Russia at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships.
