The Kirill Marchenko situation in Columbus keeps hanging over the Blue Jackets, and the noise around a possible move is getting louder. He’s been at training camp and working hard, but the belief around the league is that he may not be around long term. Marchenko still hasn’t spoken directly about where his future lies, and that silence has only fueled the speculation.
Toronto has surfaced in the conversation as one of the teams to watch. Nick Kypreos recently pointed to the Maple Leafs, along with Edmonton and Montreal, as clubs that “seem poised to try and make something work with Columbus.” He also wrote that Marchenko “desperately wants out of Columbus,” and noted that the winger has no trade protection on his contract, which gives the Blue Jackets flexibility if they decide to move him.
The appeal is obvious. Marchenko is a 30-goal scorer, and the Leafs already have a dangerous offense.
Adding another scorer of that caliber would be a major swing. GM John Chayka, according to the reporting, is not shy about making a splash, and Marchenko fits that profile.
But this is where the deal gets tricky. Columbus does not want to move Marchenko if he’s willing to re-sign, and if he isn’t, they’ll be looking for the best possible return. That creates a different kind of pressure for Toronto, especially if the Blue Jackets want to stay competitive while also thinking about keeping Zach Werenski on the roster.
That’s why Kypreos’ mention of Matthew Knies is so interesting. He wrote:
“After rumours swirled about his availability last season, I’m keeping Knies as a player to watch because, aside from his size and speed, the greatest asset right now for Toronto is that there are no trade restrictions on Knies’ contract. The noise will not go away with a new season. Not many top-six forwards around the league are without any trade protection and if the Leafs are still looking to land a big fish, Knies is a candidate to go the other way.”
Knies and Marchenko both lack trade protection, and that matters here. So does the fact that new coach Jim Hiller hasn’t exactly been over the moon about Knies at camp.
He said, “I thought he was better tonight; wasn’t that dangerous… I think he has been okay; I wouldn’t say strongly one way or the other. I think there’s more there for sure.”
A straight-up Marchenko-for-Knies swap is not how Kypreos framed it, and for good reason. Marchenko is on a team-friendly deal now, but he’s also a serious offensive player. Knies brings value too, though his long-term contract at a cap hit of $7.75 million runs until 2031.
The bigger issue is what Marchenko could cost on his next deal. Depending on his production in 2026-27, the number could land in the $12-$13 million range per season.
That turns this into more than a player-for-player discussion. It becomes a contract equation, and one that could leave Toronto paying roughly $5 million more per season.
So if the Maple Leafs really are in on Marchenko, the cleaner path may not involve Knies at all, even if that would be the simplest version of the trade.
In Other News...
Leafs Decision On Dennis Hildeby Suddenly Looks Worth Revisiting
When the Lightning claimed roster space for Dennis Hildeby by waiving Jonas Johansson, it offered a fresh reminder of how close the Leafs came to losing the young goalie for nothing. Hildeby was once part of Torontos pipeline, then moved to Tampa Bay in the deal involving Nick Paul and draft picks, a swap that helped reshape both clubs depth charts. At the time, Toronto had settled on Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz as its goalie tandem, leaving Hildeby expendable and vulnerable to the waiver wire.
Now, with Hildeby getting another look in Tampa Bays system, the old Toronto decision doesnt look quite as tidy in retrospect. The Leafs clearly prioritized their present crease situation, but the pathway they chose meant giving up a goaltender with some value at a point when he still could have been lost without any return at all. It is the kind of organizational fork in the road that doesnt always matter until a player resurfaces elsewhere and forces the question back into view. [Read more 🡒]
Gavin McKenna Is Forcing A Bigger Maple Leafs Question Than Expected
Gavin McKenna has spent Maple Leafs preseason looking every bit like a prospect who belongs in the conversation, and that has made Torontos evaluation a little more interesting than expected. The 2026 first-overall pick finished the final exhibition against the Ottawa Senators with an assist and a plus-3 rating, and across the preseason he stood out in the areas Toronto tends to value most, piling up the kind of zone entries, offensive-zone possession and slot passes that suggest real play-driving ability.
The catch, of course, is that all of it came in exhibition games against lineups that were not quite NHL regulars. Even so, McKennas ability to tilt the ice has raised the sort of question teams like to have but do not always expect this early: how long can the Maple Leafs afford to keep a player performing this well in a role that is still only a preseason sample, and what does that mean when the games start to count? [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Leave Preseason With One Encouraging Sign And One New Concern
The Leafs closed out the preseason with a 6-1 win in their final exhibition game, and coach Jim Hiller came away with a couple of clear takeaways from the night. Gavin McKenna looked improved in his second preseason game, while Easton Cowan continued to show the kind of versatility that can make him useful in different roles as camp winds down.
Jim Hiller also addressed Sergei Bobrovskys performance in net, but the bigger question coming out of the game involved Nick Paul. His status is still uncertain, though it is not believed to be serious, and the team is expected to know more the following day. For a group trying to leave the preseason feeling settled, that is the kind of update that can linger a little longer than a win usually does. [Read more 🡒]