The NHL could be primed for another massive trade shakeup.
According to a report from RG.com’s Daria Tuboltseva, the Columbus Blue Jackets are closing in on a trade involving star winger Kirill Marchenko. The Russian forward is set to be moved by Columbus as negotiations with “another NHL team” reportedly enter the final stages.
“Kirill is essentially between two teams right now,” a source close to Marchenko tells Tuboltseva. “The parties are now negotiating the terms of the trade.”
Marchenko, 26, has emerged as one of the NHL’s most productive scoring wingers, recording 67 points (27g, 40a) in 76 games for the Blue Jackets. He has now led Columbus in goal scoring for three straight seasons and finished 15th in points among all of the league’s right wingers this past year, ahead of names like Alex Tuch (66), Bryan Rust (65), Tom Wilson (62), Ivan Demidov (62), Beckett Sennecke (60), Patrick Kane (57), and Matvei Michkov (51).
As Tuboltseva indicates, the timing of the report is interesting as it comes just a few weeks after Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell seemingly shut down any trade rumors regarding Marchenko. According to The Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger, Waddell went as far as saying, “Marchenko’s going to be a Blue Jacket once the season starts,” shortly after he also took Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski off the trade market.
Marchenko is entering the final season of the three-year, $11.55 million contract ($3.85 AAV) that he signed with the Blue Jackets in 2024. He will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, making him an incredibly intriguing trade target for teams seeking both immediate scoring help and long-term control.
One of the rumored clubs circling Marchenko’s situation is reportedly the Montreal Canadiens, who were one series victory away from playing in the Stanley Cup Final this past spring. The Canadiens have room in their top-six forward group, as Alex Newhook, whose career high in points is 34, is currently slated to be a winger on the club’s second line. They also own their first- and second-round draft picks in the next four drafts.
Marchenko has been back in his native Russia during the offseason, playing in the annual Match of the Year charity game in Saint Petersburg on Saturday. He scored twice for Team Sergachev in their 10-9 shootout victory over Team Panarin.
