Kirill Marchenko’s name is already hanging over Columbus, and the chatter doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon.
The Blue Jackets winger didn’t exactly sound like someone eager to plant roots long-term when he recently spoke with the media, and that has only fueled the speculation around his future. There has been no official trade request from Marchenko, at least not publicly, but Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos believes the 26-year-old wants out and says three Canadian clubs are lining up: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens.
“Kirill Marchenko, who desperately wants out of Columbus, should have an easier time doing so since he doesn’t have any trade protection on his contract, so it comes down to the Blue Jackets finding a deal they like. Furthermore, he’s a pending RFA with arbitration rights so a team trading for him won’t just be getting a one-year rental. Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal seem poised to try and make something work with Columbus,”
That contract situation matters. Marchenko is a pending restricted free agent and is heading into the third and final season of the three-year, $11.55 million extension he signed with Columbus in 2024. He also has arbitration rights, which makes him more than just a short-term pickup for any team willing to pay the price.
Last season, Marchenko put up 67 points in 76 games, scoring 27 goals and adding 40 assists.
Montreal has been tied to him for a while, so its presence in this conversation isn’t much of a surprise. Toronto and Edmonton are newer additions to the rumor mill, but both teams have kept room to chase a move like this if the right opportunity comes along, with GMs John Chayka and Stan Bowman staying flexible.
There’s no deadline forcing Don Waddell’s hand, but if Columbus stumbles out of the gate, the noise around Marchenko is only going to get louder. Zach Werenski would likely get pulled into that same conversation too.
And as the 2026-27 season gets underway, the spotlight around the Blue Jackets could be intense.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Just Built Deeper Roster Insurance Than Fans Realize
The Maple Leafs quietly turned a roster squeeze into a depth win this week, placing eight players on waivers and sending all of them through to the Toronto Marlies. The group includes Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri, Steven Lorentz, Michael Pezzetta, Henrik Rybinski, Ryan Tverberg, Philippe Myers and Marshall Rifai, giving the organization a fuller reserve of NHL-caliber options than it may have had at this point last season.
For Toronto, the immediate effect is less about the big clubs opening-night picture and more about what it means underneath it. The Marlies suddenly have a far more experienced mix to lean on, while the Maple Leafs can keep a deeper layer of roster insurance close by if injuries or performance issues force changes later on. In a league where early-season attrition can reshape depth charts quickly, that kind of organizational cushion matters more than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Roster Shift Opens Door For Marlies Standout To Break Through
Dakota Joshuas core injury is creating an early roster ripple for the Maple Leafs, and it looks like the opening could go to a familiar depth name. With Joshua expected to land on injured reserve or long-term injured reserve, James Mirtle reported that Bo Groulx is likely to start the season with Toronto after coming up from the Marlies.
For a team that is already sorting through changes up front, Joshuas health has added a fresh layer of uncertainty to the bottom six. The bigger question now is not just how long hes out, but what his injury and the clubs recent roster moves mean for his place in the lineup once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Have A Short-Term Wing Decision To Make
The Blue Jackets putting Miles Wood on waivers put another experienced winger into the conversation for clubs looking to stabilize their depth, and the Maple Leafs are among the teams that can at least take a serious look. Wood has been around the league long enough to know the grind of a full season, and his name lands in Toronto at a time when the roster could use some extra insurance on the wing.
For the Leafs, the appeal is straightforward: he is a veteran option with a track record of NHL minutes and a contract that makes him a more manageable short-term discussion than a splashier addition. The question now is whether Toronto sees enough value in that profile to move quickly, or whether it lets the waiver process play out and waits to see what other answers might emerge. [Read more 🡒]