Kirill Marchenko told Columbus he wouldn’t re-sign, making a trade an absolute must for a team trying to retool on the fly and keep Zach Werenski from ever rethinking leaving. This isn’t some whisper in the locker room, Marchenko himself was honest with the Blue Jackets, and now a deal feels inevitable for them to get some real value back. The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly attempting to acquire him, and man, this move could be huge if it lands.
The Trade Buzz and Marchenko’s Journey
So, what’s cooking? The proposed trade between the Leafs and Blue Jackets is a multi-piece puzzle, including Knies and Marchenko. Here’s the kicker, though: it’s not a done deal yet. Both teams are still deep in negotiations, working through all the specifics. Plus, the Leafs are already talking extension with Marchenko’s agent, Dan Milstein, which tells you they’re serious about this guy. Marchenko, a 26-year-old winger from Barnaul, Russia, has been on the radar for a minute. He started his career as a teen in Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk, then moved up to SKA St. Petersburg in 2018, the same summer Columbus drafted him 49th overall. He played for SKA until he came over to the Blue Jackets, and even spent 16 games in the AHL in his first season. This isn’t some rookie; he’s got experience and has been building up to this.
Why Marchenko Is A Game-Changer
Let’s talk about what makes Marchenko such a hot commodity. This dude is 6’3″, 201 lbs, and shoots right. His current contract is $3.85 million and expires this year, making him an RFA next season. But forget the paper for a second and look at the play. NHL Edge has him at the 93rd percentile for skating speed, and his speed bursts? Even better, approaching the best in the entire league! He’s been averaging 19 minutes per game over the past two years and was Columbus’s most used forward last season, often lining up with Adam Fantilli. That’s serious ice time for a reason.
Advanced stats back it up, too. Marchenko’s been a primary driver of offense for three years, with a major emphasis on Goals For while he’s on the ice. Defense? He’s in the “fine for a winger” range, but his power-play prowess more than makes up for it. HockeyViz rates him as a good, though not outstanding, creator of offense, with excellent finishing skills and a “do no harm” rating on defense. He shoots at a high rate, not Auston Matthews-level high, but definitely in the upper echelon of forwards, and he routinely scores over expected. He concentrates his shots in the slot, unlike some other big names, which is a good thing. He’s consistently excellent, a top-line winger with real shooting talent, lightning-fast, great on the power play, and he doesn’t need to crash the net to score. This guy is a threat.
So, the Maple Leafs are trying to snag a truly dangerous winger who is flat-out refusing to re-sign with Columbus. This isn’t just a trade; it’s a potential seismic shift. Keep an eye on this one, folks! Meanwhile, our own Emerald City warriors, the Seattle Kraken, just wrapped up a tough battle on the road, falling 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks. It was a tight one, and you know our guys will be looking for redemption next time they hit the ice!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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