Kirill Marchenko appears to be getting close to a trade out of Columbus. Two NHL clubs are now finalizing their terms to close a deal for the Blue Jackets winger.

The Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said this month that Marchenko would be opening the season with the team. Columbus wasn't actively looking to trade Marchenko, but the club remained open to offers. 

Marchenko's camp confirmed the urgency. Kirill is essentially between two teams right now.

“Kirill is essentially between two teams right now,” analyst Daria Tuboltseva from RG.org reported based on reports from a close source. “The parties are now negotiating the terms of the trade. 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."

This does confirm that the talks have reached a serious stage. It also suggests that the result could come quickly too. 

Columbus coach Rick Bowness is reportedly preparing the roster for a larger rebuild this season. With the trade now confirmed, Marchenko has spent the offseason training in Russia.

Montreal pursued Marchenko earlier this offseason and remains engaged. If the Blue Jackets move Marchenko, it would be a surprising turnaround from Waddell's comments just weeks ago.

“I’ve had discussions with his agent, which we won’t discuss right now, but Marchenko is going to be a Blue Jacket when the season starts,” Waddell told reporters on July 2.

Marco D'Amico said on The Starr & D'Amico Show that Montreal is still in the market for a top-six scoring forward, with Marchenko viewed as one of the best available options. Still, any trade would likely require progress in contract discussions with his representatives.

Other Eastern Conference teams have also been mentioned. The New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers are all speculated teams that are trying to pursue a proven scoring winger, as per Marker Zone.

But the contract situation is what makes this difficult. Marchenko is entering the final season of a three-year, $3.85 million deal. He’s set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after 2026-27. So a new team must decide whether it's adding a short-term rental or a long-term contract for the player.

Kirill Marchenko's rise in Columbus

Columbus acquired Marchenko in the second round, 49th overall, in 2018. He spent four seasons in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg before signing with the Blue Jackets in 2022. He also went on to represent Russia at the World Junior Championship, winning bronze in 2019 and silver in 2020.

According to the NHL stats, Marchenko made his debut and set franchise rookie records by scoring 21 goals in 59 games. He became the first player in Blue Jackets history to score 20 or more goals in each of his first three NHL seasons, and his 35 goals through his first 100 career games.

Marchenko has improved his numbers in most seasons since then. He made a career-high mark by scoring 74 points in 2024-25, then continued with 67 points on 27 goals and 40 assists in 76 games last season. He has led Columbus in goals in each of his three full NHL seasons; that gives him a total of 102 career goals and 208 points in 292 games.

What do you think about Marchenko potentially joining the Canadiens? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar