Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets Discussing Kirill Marchenko Trade

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With NHL club rosters due at 5 pm, the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to field calls for forward Kirill Marchenko. One team that has stepped up as the deadline nears is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

There is word this afternoon the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs are deep in discussions on a trade involving Kirill Marchenko.

More to come…

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 28, 2026

Marchenko is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights next and is in the final year of his deal that pays him $3.85 million a season. During the 2026 NHL Draft, reports emerged that he would not extend in Columbus.

So any team looking to acquire him will not only need permission to speak with his agent, Dan Milstein, about a hefty contract extension, but also have to give up the assets GM Don Waddell wants in return.

See, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell is actively looking to trade him. He still sees Marchenko as a valuable part of the team. Marchenko showed up to camp and gave it his all, but he remains silent on his future, saying he just wants to play hockey.

But that doesn’t mean teams have stopped calling. Waddell reiterated his point that he doesn’t want to trade Marchenko for futures when he joined Dave McCarthy on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Sunday.

“I’m not calling teams, they’re calling me…I can’t trade him for picks & prospects. That doesn’t make any sense for our franchise at this point,” Waddell said. We need to get value that we think we can add to our hockey team right now that we can afford. We do have cap issues we can afford, and for something that makes sense out there, it’s certainly my job to look at it. And if there’s something that we think is fair value, then we’ll pull the trigger.”

Marchenko has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Vegas Golden Knights, Seattle Kraken, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs sought permission about an extension and are negotiating a deal that involves Matthew Knies.

The proposed Leafs-Blue Jackets trade involves multiple pieces, including Knies and Marchenko, and it’s not a done deal yet. Both teams still working through things. Plus Leafs negotiating with Marchenko’s agent Dan Milstein.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 28, 2026

It makes sense that Knies is part of the trade package, given what Waddell wants in return. Why would the Blue Jackets give up one of their top goal scorers for parts when making the playoffs is a non-negotiable this year? Remember, while Zach Werenski has quieted it down a bit, it can always reignite if this team isn’t in a playoff position.

Given the Maple Leafs have permission to speak to Marchenko and his agent, what does the final contract number look like? Does the AAV get close to $11 million a season? Is it less than that?

Regardless of the number, the Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs are in the final stages of a trade call, sending Matthew Knies to Columbus and Kirill Marchenko to Toronto. Again, this all comes down to whether they can agree on the dollars and length of the contract. We have seen other deals fall apart because teams couldn’t agree on money.

It will be fascinating to watch as the 5 pm deadline inches closer.

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