Kirill Marchenko’s trade market has narrowed, and the Columbus Blue Jackets forward is now down to “two teams” as a deal gets closer.
Marchenko, 25, was one of the big names linked to the Utah Mammoth earlier in the offseason, but Utah has since wrapped up most of its summer business. That leaves the Blue Jackets star looking more likely to land elsewhere, with Montreal emerging as the clear frontrunner.
Columbus is trying to address its lack of goal scoring by moving some of its top talent, and Marchenko is the latest major name in play. He’s coming off a 27-goal, 40-assist season, which has only made him more attractive to interested teams. The Canadiens were among the clubs that checked in on him early, along with Utah, but a move for Marchenko would have cost far more than what the Mammoth ultimately gave up in their own offseason dealings.
That price tag is part of why Utah appears to be out of the picture now. The Mammoth could have made a run at him, but the organization also seems comfortable letting younger players grow into bigger roles over time.
For Montreal, the fit is obvious enough. The Canadiens, like Utah, are one of the youngest teams in the NHL and could use a player with Marchenko’s scoring touch. Both clubs saw their seasons end at the hands of the teams that went on to reach the Stanley Cup, and now Montreal is looking to take the next step just as Utah did in June and early July.
Marchenko may end up being part of that push.
In Other News...
Kirill Marchenko Rumors Raise A Huge Question About This Front Office
Kirill Marchenkos name is back in the rumor mill, and the latest chatter has only added to the intrigue around what Columbus might do next. Recent reports say a potential trade has been paused for now, but not necessarily shelved for good, which is enough to keep rival front offices watching closely as the summer drags on.
The Blue Jackets, for their part, have not gotten calls on Marchenko since earlier in the offseason and still expect him to open the 2026-27 season in Columbus, even if that outlook could shift later in the summer. Any real movement would have to balance his production with the kind of long-term commitment a team would need to make, and that is where the conversation gets much bigger than one player and one rumor. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Still Has One Big Problem Every New Rival Needs
A new franchise usually gets its edge from somewhere, whether it is a bruising opponent, a memorable playoff wound or one player who instantly becomes public enemy No. 1. The Utah Mammoth are still searching for that kind of identity, at least in the early read from The Athletic, which noted that the club does not yet have a clear villain to rally against or around. There are a few names that could eventually grow into the role, but for now the picture is still forming.
Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden were mentioned as possible fits if the rivalry heat starts to rise, and the broader landscape is just as unfinished. Utah does not have a true built-in rival yet, though the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild all look like the sort of teams that could help shape one over time. For a fan base trying to figure out who to boo and who to circle on the calendar, the answer may have to wait a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Projected Lineup Suddenly Puts Real Pressure On This Core
NHL.coms early look at Utahs projected 2026-27 lineup is the kind of thing that gets attention because it shows how quickly the Mammoth are trying to turn a new roster into something that can matter in the Central Division. With Vincent Trocheck, Anders Lee, Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar all slotted into prominent roles, the picture is of a team that is no longer just collecting names, but trying to build a legitimate base around them.
The more interesting part for anyone watching the Coyotes old division footprint is how much pressure that kind of projection puts on the core to be ready sooner rather than later. Utah has also brought in Adam Foote to help shore up the defense, and the expectation is clearly that this group is meant to push toward contention, not just survive the transition. Even with the lineup still only a projection, the way those pieces are arranged says plenty about the standard the organization is setting. [Read more 🡒]