The Toronto Maple Leafs have been tied to another name on the trade market, and this one comes with a clear wrinkle: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko has already asked for a move out of town.
Marchenko has since reported to camp with Columbus even though the season is only days away from starting, but the sense around him is that a trade is only a matter of time. If Toronto ends up as the team that lands him, the real question is what the price tag would actually look like.
Columbus is not going to move him cheaply. Marchenko still carries plenty of value around the NHL, which means the Maple Leafs would likely have to put real assets on the table if they want to get into the mix.
Young players are the most obvious starting point, and two names that fit that bill are Easton Cowan and Ben Danford. Either one could interest the Blue Jackets as a piece they can keep developing.
Harry Nansi could also be included if Toronto is serious about pushing a deal through, though a package built around prospects alone probably would not be enough.
Matthew Knies has also come up in speculation around a possible return for Marchenko, and on the surface a one-for-one swap makes sense. Both are young forwards with room to grow, and both could end up being important pieces for their next team.
But for Toronto, that kind of deal comes with a problem.
Knies is already on a team-friendly contract. Marchenko, by contrast, is heading toward a much larger number on his next deal. So if the Maple Leafs were to move Knies, they would be giving up one of their more affordable young forwards and replacing him with someone who is going to cost significantly more.
That is why the cleaner path for Toronto would be a package centered on Cowan or Danford, with another piece added to get Columbus to bite. If the Blue Jackets want Knies specifically, then the deal becomes much easier to execute. From Columbus’ side, getting a player like Knies back would be attractive.
Still, Toronto would have to weigh that carefully. Marchenko would bring another talented forward into the lineup, but the price matters.
If the Maple Leafs can land him without surrendering Knies, it becomes a much more interesting swing. If Columbus holds firm on Knies, Toronto has a tougher decision on its hands because Knies brings more value to the team on any given night.
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