The Kirill Marchenko chatter that went quiet for a stretch may be heating back up, and one report says a trade could be close.
Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are “just finalizing the terms of a deal,” with Marchenko expected to be moved in the near future. Tuboltseva said the winger’s camp is aware talks are active again after what she described as a summer of mixed signals.
“Kirill Marchenko is expected to be traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the near future, according to a source close to the Russian forward, even as talks appear to be picking back up after a summer of mixed signals.
RG.org has learned that the Blue Jackets and another team are finalizing the terms of a trade, and Marchenko’s camp knows the talks are ongoing. ‘Kirill is essentially between two teams right now,’ a source close to the player told RG.org. ‘The parties are now negotiating the terms of the trade,'”
Montreal is still in the picture, too. Tuboltseva noted that the Canadiens remain among the teams that have pursued Marchenko and could be part of the final negotiations.
“The Montreal Canadiens are among the clubs that have pursued Marchenko, having made a run at the winger earlier in the offseason, and they could factor into the current talks,”
Marchenko, 26, is heading into the third and final season of the three-year, $11.55 million extension he signed with Columbus in 2024. He will be RFA eligible at the end of the season. Last year, he put up 67 points, scoring 27 goals and adding 40 assists in 76 games.
There had been talk around the draft that Marchenko might not be interested in extending beyond his current deal in Columbus, but that noise faded once the Zach Werenski situation took over the conversation.
Even so, Marchenko has built a reputation as one of the better wingers in the league, and he’s still just entering his prime.
If Montreal is the team making the push, it would make sense. The Canadiens have yet to make a notable outside addition this summer, and GM Kent Hughes still has room to make a splash.
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