Blue Jackets prospects wins 2020 KHL Rookie of the Year, committed to playing in the U.S. this year

When the Columbus Blue Jackets called out Yegor Chinakhov's name with the 21st pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, there was a lot of confusion as to why they used their first rounder to select a guy who was projected to go much later in the draft - perhaps several rounds later.

Network hockey analysts were caught off guard by the pick, with Chinakhov not even cracking the top 10 for international skaters on the NHL's final Central Scouting List. Nevertheless, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was thrilled that he got his man - and now we're seeing why.

After winning a Gagarin Cup in his first professional season with Omsk Avangard, Chinakhov has now gone on to be named the KHL's Rookie of the Year after scoring 10 goals and 17 points in 32 games last season.

The Blue Jackets may have found a good one in Chinakhov. The early returns have been excellent and with the 20-year-old having already committed to playing in North America this season, the Blue Jackets will get a very close look at the Omsk native at training camp.

While he appears AHL-bound in year 1 in North America, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that Chinakhov comes into training camp and steals a spot on the Blue Jackets' roster, with the rebuild happening around him.

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