FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 6, 2020

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS SELECT AVANGARD RIGHT WING YEGOR CHINAKHOV WITH THE 21ST OVERALL PICK AT THE 2020 NHL DRAFT

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have selected Avangard Omsk right wing Yegor Chinakhov with the 21st overall selection in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced tonight.

Chinakhov, 19, has recorded five goals and two assists for seven points with four minutes and three power play goals, while averaging 12:22 of ice time in 12 games with Avangard Omsk in ’s Kontinental Hockey League in 2020- 21. Skating as Avangard’s youngest player, the is tied for the club lead in power play goals, ranks second in goals and sixth-T in points.

“Yegor is a skilled forward with excellent puck skills and scoring ability and we are very excited to welcome him to the Columbus Blue Jackets,” said Kekalainen. “At 19, he is one of the top players on his KHL club and we think he has tremendous potential.”

The Omsk, Russia native tallied 36-54-90 with 22 penalty minutes and a cumulative +52 plus/minus rating in 97 career outings with Omskie Yastreby in Russia’s junior league (MHL) from 2017-20. He registered 27-42-69 with 16 penalty minutes, six power play goals, 200 shots and a +32 plus/minus rating in 56 contests during the 2019-20 season. He ranked second in the MHL in assists, fifth in points, eighth-T in goals and 13th in shots on goal.

The 6-0, 178-pound helped Russia capture a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championships with 2-1-3 and four penalty minutes in seven appearances. He also helped Russia earn a bronze medal at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with 1-2-3 in five games.

Chinakhov’s complete NHL Draft profile, complete with career statistics can be found HERE.

Rounds 2-7 of the 2020 NHL Draft will be held virtually on Wednesday, October 7 beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Blue Jackets currently hold the following picks – third round (78th), fourth round (114th), fifth round (145th), sixth round (176th) and seventh round (207th). More information on this event can be obtained by visiting nhl.com/draft.

YEGOR CHINAKHOV, Right Wing (pronounced EE-Gohr Chihn-AH-Kawf) Hgt.: 6-0, Wgt.: 178, Shoots: Right, Born: February 1, 2001 (Omsk, Russia) Career Statistics Regular Season Playoffs Year Team League GP G A PTS +/- PIM GP G A PTS +/- PIM 2017-18 Omskie Yastreby MHL 4 1 4 5 7 2 … … … … … … 2018-19 Omskie Yastreby MHL 37 8 8 16 13 4 7 1 1 2 0 27 Yastreby Omsk Russia U18 8 7 8 15 9 0 … … … … … … 2019-20 Omskie Yastreby MHL 56 27 42 69 32 16 4 1 0 1 2 2 Izhstal Izhevsk VHL 2 2 1 3 3 0 … … … … … … 2020-21 Avangard Omsk KHL 12 5 2 7 2 4 … … … … … … KHL Totals 12 5 2 7 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 VHL Totals 2 2 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MHL Totals 97 36 54 90 52 22 11 2 1 3 2 29

- CBJ -

Contacts: Todd Sharrock, Vice President of Communications & Team Services - (614) 746-5403, [email protected] Glenn Odebralski, Manager of Communications – (614) 406-4957, [email protected]