The Edmonton Oilers are still hunting for another difference-making winger to bolster their top six, and Kirill Marchenko checks just about every box. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has become one of the league’s most underrated scorers, and if the contract situation ever pushes Columbus toward a move, Edmonton would be ready to pounce.
One proposed framework would send Marchenko to the Oilers in exchange for Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick.
Marchenko has quietly turned into a high-end young winger. Over the last two seasons, he has hovered near a point-per-game pace while bringing a dangerous shot, real playmaking touch, and enough size to hold up in all three zones. For Edmonton, that kind of player would be a clean fit next to Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, and he’d give the Oilers another scoring threat beyond their superstar core.
The contract only adds to the appeal. Marchenko carries a cap hit of just $3.85 million through the 2026-27 season, which makes him a premium offensive piece without a premium price tag. He would also remain under team control as a restricted free agent after the deal expires, giving Edmonton a path to a longer stay if things go well.
From Columbus’ side, the appeal is in the volume and the upside. If the Blue Jackets decide they can’t get comfortable on a long-term extension, moving a 25-year-old in his prime would only make sense if the return is strong.
Savoie would be the headliner, bringing former first-round pedigree and the kind of skill and hockey IQ that could still develop into a top-six role. Akey would add another promising young defenseman to the mix.
Then there’s the 2028 first-round pick, which may be the most valuable piece in the whole package. Young, cost-controlled scorers do not come cheap, and recent trades around the league have helped set the bar.
The Brandon Hagel deal brought Chicago two first-round picks for a younger winger with less production, while Alex DeBrincat fetched a package built around the seventh-overall pick and more draft capital. The 2028 third-rounder is another small but useful asset for Columbus, and it helps Edmonton avoid emptying out even more of its prospect pool.
For the Oilers, this would be a bold swing that fits the moment. The price is heavy, but that’s the cost of chasing a 25-year-old winger with term on one of the league’s better contracts. For the Blue Jackets, it’s the kind of return that could make sense if Marchenko’s future starts pointing somewhere else.
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For Columbus, the decision also clarifies where Sillinger fits in the lineup. He is expected to remain in a third-line role, giving the Blue Jackets a dependable middle-six option they can continue to develop without having to revisit his status again anytime soon. The deal carries him through the 2028-29 season, so the next question is less about whether he stays and more about how much his game can grow in the role the team has mapped out for him. [Read more 🡒]
Don Waddell Just Changed The Blue Jackets' Biggest Contract Question
The Blue Jackets have quietly taken a big chunk of business off the board by locking up Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger on separate three-year deals, and the timing matters as much as the contracts themselves. For a team trying to keep its books clean, Don Waddell has managed to avoid the kind of rushed, cap-clogging move that can haunt a roster later, and these two signings give Columbus a much clearer path as it starts sorting out its next wave of core players.
Adam Fantilli is the name that now hangs over the rest of the summer, and the structure of these deals suggests the Blue Jackets are preserving room for a major extension without boxing themselves in. Greaves contract took some late work to get across the finish line, which only adds to the sense that Columbus was willing to be patient rather than force the issue, and that approach could end up defining how the front office handles its most important negotiation next. [Read more 🡒]
The Cam Atkinson Trade Still Hits Blue Jackets Fans Hard
The Cam Atkinson trade still lands with a thud in Columbus, even years later, because it marked the end of one of the most recognizable stretches of the franchises modern era. On July 24, 2021, Atkinson was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers for Jake Vorek, a move that sent a longtime Blue Jackets face out the door and brought back a player with his own well-established track record.
Voreks stay in Columbus ended up being brief, and the aftershocks of the deal never really faded for fans who had spent years associating Atkinson with the teams identity. Atkinson eventually came back to close the loop in October 2025, signing a one-day contract so he could retire as a Blue Jacket, a final touch that only underscored how much that trade had altered the emotional shape of the roster and the fan base. [Read more 🡒]