Maple Leafs Beat Canadiens to Acquire Kirill Marchenko

Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, closing out a trade race that included the Montreal Canadiens and reshaping the opening-night matchup for the upcoming National Hockey League season.

General manager Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens pursued Marchenko after missing out on Matthew Knies, another forward target who had been on Montreal’s radar since the previous trade deadline. A leadership change in Toronto that brought John Chayka to the front office eliminated the possibility of Knies landing in Montreal. Hughes subsequently shifted his focus to Marchenko, but the Canadiens lacked the established roster player demanded by Columbus general manager Don Waddell, an asset the Blue Jackets ultimately secured from Toronto in the deal that also included Knies.

A Quick Turnaround for the Opener Against Montreal

Following the trade, Marchenko signed a six-year contract carrying an average annual value of $12.5 million. TSN insider Chris Johnston reported that the 26-year-old forward could make his debut immediately. Johnston stated on the OverDrive program that the Maple Leafs would make every effort to get Marchenko in uniform for their season opener scheduled against the Canadiens.

Adding to the frustration for Montreal supporters, TSN analyst Elliotte Friedman revealed during an appearance on the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast that Marchenko initially favored a move to Montreal. Friedman reported that when Marchenko hit the market, discussions indicated the player was prepared to reach an agreement on a trade to Montreal, adding that he was not initially convinced Marchenko had interest in extending his career in Toronto before circumstances changed over the summer.