Kirill Marchenko didn’t need long to answer the noise.
After recent criticism from major media outlets, the Maple Leafs winger turned in a night that made the conversation feel pretty small. Marchenko scored a hat trick in Toronto’s 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, including a dazzling power-play finish where he went between the legs. Then he added two more and left no doubt about what kind of impact he can have when he’s rolling.
The reaction around him has picked up quickly, but the production has been there. Jeff O’Neill said on TSN’s Overdrive that Marchenko hasn’t been fantastic since scoring his first goal with the Maple Leafs and looked “sleepy” on their latest road trip.
Marchenko has said himself that he has more to give. Fair enough.
But the bigger picture is that he’s still been one of the most dangerous and productive players on the ice.
That’s why the criticism has felt a little forced. He’s only weeks into his time with Toronto, and there have been a few bad turnovers that led to ugly results.
Still, he’s been a real offensive driver, and the numbers back that up. At five-on-five, Marchenko has an expected goals for of 53.38%, a scoring chances for of 60.42% and a high danger chances of 55.81%.
He’s also third on the team in individual scoring chances for with 18, trailing Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and ranks 29th in the league.
Even with the goals not always coming in bunches, Marchenko has been around the puck constantly. He’s been shooting from all over the ice, and the bounces finally swung his way against Buffalo. He has been pointless in only one game this season.
There’s also the adjustment factor. Marchenko hasn’t been playing on his strong side, and his role has been a little different from what he had with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He has looked dangerous on the top line, but he also stood out on his strong side with John Tavares and Nick Paul on the second line. That shift hasn’t made him a disappointment by any stretch.
Before joining the Maple Leafs, Marchenko carried a 0.79 point-per-game average. He’s now a point-per-game player. And even if that pace doesn’t last forever, the structure around him should only help him settle in further, find more quality looks and keep cashing in.
For a player who’s already driving play and creating chances, the outside hand-wringing seems unnecessary. Marchenko just put together the kind of performance that quiets a lot of that chatter in a hurry.
In Other News...
Oilers Linked To A Top-Six Target They May Struggle To Land
Kirill Marchenko gave the Maple Leafs a jolt with a hat trick in a game that still slipped away in overtime after Toronto blew a lead. It was the kind of night that can leave a team with mixed emotions: plenty of offense, but not enough finishing when it mattered most. For a club still trying to sort out its identity, the performance offered both a glimpse of what the lineup can do and a reminder of how fragile a win can be.
The Leafs also had to navigate a more concerning moment when John Tavares exited in the third period after an awkward collision with Josh Norris. Jim Hiller had no update afterward, leaving Toronto with more questions than answers as it heads into the next stretch. Even on a night when Marchenkos scoring stood out, the bigger concern may be whether the Leafs can quickly get clarity on Tavares and steady themselves before the details around his status become more than a subplot. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Cassidy Keeps One Maple Leafs Question Very Much Alive
Bruce Cassidy has kept himself close to the game while leaving plenty of room for speculation about where he might land next. For now, he is working with Team Canadas womens team as it prepares for the IIHF World Championships, but his name still lingers in the background whenever the Maple Leafs coaching picture comes up. The interest cuts both ways, too, with Cassidy still looking to position himself for another NHL head coaching job.
The timing only adds to the intrigue around Toronto, where any hint of future coaching movement tends to draw attention quickly. Cassidy is under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, even though he is not behind their bench, which leaves his status in an unusual spot as he waits for the right opening. For the Leafs, the question is less about whether a change could someday come and more about how long this kind of uncertainty might continue hanging over the franchise. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Loss Just Turned Gavin McKenna Into A Bigger Debate
The Maple Leafs overtime loss to Buffalo already stung because Toronto had carried a two-goal lead into the third period and still let it slip away. But the result was only part of the story. What drew the loudest reaction was the handling of rookie Gavin McKenna, whose night took an unexpected turn and quickly shifted the conversation from a frustrating collapse to the bigger issue of how the Leafs are managing a young player who is supposed to be part of their future.
Jim Hiller said he took responsibility for the decision, which only added to the scrutiny around trust and development in a season where every lineup choice feels magnified. With John Tavares injured, the Leafs may have a natural opening for McKenna to get more involved next game, and that possibility now carries even more weight after a loss that left both the standings picture and the rookies role looking unsettled. [Read more 🡒]