Chinakhov, who dealt with injuries since arriving in North America in 2021, including a back strain causing him to miss the 2023-24 preseason and the first 10 regular-season games, has played 12 games since his return, tallying two goals and four points.
Chinakhov shared with reporters that he contemplated returning home during his rookie season in 2021, like teammate Voronkov. However, he is determined to make a mark in the NHL, whether with Columbus or another team.