It was a fitting honor for Chinakhov, who has signed a three-year entry level contract for the Blue Jackets, in more ways than one. Not only did he deserve the award after posting 10 goals in 32 regular season games and five more in 21 playoff contests with Avangard Omsk, the honor is named after Cherepanov, a former Avangard player who collapsed and died of heart failure during a 2008 game. After Omsk won the KHL's Gagarin Cup this year, Chinakhov took the trophy to Cherepanov's gravesite to show the connection Avangard still has with the fallen player.
On the ice, Chinakhov was a surprise first-round pick of the Blue Jackets when the team took him 21st overall in October's draft, but he didn't stay a secret for very long. Chinakhov, who had 69 points in 56 games with Omsk's junior squad a year ago, quickly became one of Avangard's top players this past season, notching five goals in five games after seven scoreless appearances to start his KHL career.
ANALYSIS: Breaking down Chinakhov's game
He would go on to represent Russia at the annual World Juniors tournament but suffered an injury there that knocked him out for a month and a half. Chinakhov still finished with a 10-7-17 line in 32 games, then helped Avangard to the KHL title. Four of his five postseason goals came in a six-game series win over Metallurg, while the other came in Game 1 of the title series vs. CSKA Moscow. He also added two assists for Avangard during its playoff run to give him a combined 15-9-24 line in 53 games.
Chinakhov will now get a chance to make it in the NHL next year at age 20 after signing an entry-level deal with Columbus in May.
"We are very pleased to sign Yegor to his entry level contract and are excited about his commitment to the Blue Jackets and taking this next step in his career," CBJ general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said at the time. "He is a smart, dynamic player who had a very good rookie season in the KHL and we look forward to his continued development as a member of our organization."
Previous winners of the KHL's top rookie honors include Tampa Bay Lightning goalie and Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy and current Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin.
