The Chicago Blackhawks have already done plenty this offseason, but they may not be done yet. And if Kyle Davidson is still looking for a way to upgrade the roster, Kirill Marchenko is the kind of target that makes sense.
Chicago has been active in all the ways that matter. The Blackhawks traded for and signed Bowen Byram, brought in depth pieces Ian Cole and Cole Smith, extended Connor Bedard, and added Patrick Kane. That business has left them in a solid cap position, with enough flexibility to stay above the floor and without any ugly money clogging the books for years to come.
That gives the Blackhawks room to keep working. They may not be the favorite to land a major addition between now and training camp after the Kane signing, but they also aren’t boxed in if the right opportunity shows up.
Marchenko stands out as one of the more realistic names still floating around. Reports have linked him to wanting out of Columbus, though there have also been conflicting rumors from the Blue Jackets saying that isn’t true. Either way, there’s clearly noise around his situation.
If he does get moved, Montreal appears to be the front-runner. But the Canadiens won’t be the only team interested, and Chicago has the cap space and trade assets to get involved. The Blackhawks are in the conversation whether they’re the favorite or not.
From a fit standpoint, it’s not hard to see why. Chicago has a lot of forwards who live in that middle-six offensive lane, but outside of Connor Bedard, nobody is a sure bet to push past 70 points. Patrick Kane, Frank Nazar, and Anton Frondell could get there, but for different reasons, none of that is locked in yet.
Marchenko offers something cleaner and more immediate. If he plays 80-plus games, he should clear 70 points and reach the 30-goal mark.
Over the last three seasons, he has posted 58 goals and 83 assists for 141 points in 155 games. That’s the profile of a winger who finishes and creates, and that would be a strong match next to one of Chicago’s top centers.
Of course, a deal like that would come with a cost. The Blackhawks have a surplus of NHL-ready forwards, and some of them would likely need to be part of the return to make room. Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker are among the names that could be involved.
Marchenko is 26 and still early in his career, and if he’s moved, it would be because he doesn’t want to stay in Columbus. Chicago would then have to weigh both the trade price and the contract money that comes with him.
Still, the fit is easy to picture. With Connor Bedard setting the table, Marchenko could produce at a high level in Chicago.
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