For most of the summer, the Kirill Marchenko trade rumors felt stuck in neutral. The Montreal Canadiens were linked repeatedly to the Columbus Blue Jackets winger, an earlier report suggested a trade could be approaching, and yet Columbus continued to insist Marchenko was expected back.
Now there is one important difference: Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has publicly confirmed that teams are calling about Marchenko.
“Teams have called me,” Waddell told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch, while making it equally clear Columbus will only move Marchenko in a deal that improves the Blue Jackets. Waddell still expects the 26-year-old winger to report when Columbus opens training camp September 16.
That isn’t confirmation that Marchenko is being shopped, and it certainly doesn’t mean a trade to the Montreal Canadiens is imminent.
But it does leave a door open.
And if that door opens any wider, Kent Hughes should be one of the first general managers trying to walk through it.
Why the Montreal Canadiens Still Make Sense for Kirill Marchenko
There is a reason Marchenko continues to be connected to Montreal.
The Canadiens are entering a stage where simply accumulating promising prospects is no longer enough. They have already built an intriguing young nucleus around Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson. The question now becomes how aggressively Hughes wants to convert some of Montreal’s future assets into another established top-six weapon.
Marchenko fits that timeline almost perfectly.
He scored 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games during the 2025-26 season, producing at an average of 0.88 points per game. He now has 102 goals and 208 points through 292 career NHL games.
More importantly, he isn’t a veteran rental who would temporarily accelerate Montreal’s rebuild.
He’s 26.
Marchenko could theoretically become part of the Canadiens’ core for the next five or six seasons if Montreal acquired him and eventually signed him long term.
That’s why I believe this is exactly the type of player Hughes should be willing to pay for.
Montreal shouldn’t empty its prospect cupboard simply because a recognizable name becomes available, but Marchenko is different. He’s already a legitimate NHL producer, he’s entering his prime years, and his offensive profile addresses something Montreal still needs: another dangerous top-six scorer capable of playing with the club’s emerging offensive talent.
Kirill Marchenko’s Contract Makes a Canadiens Trade Even More Interesting
Marchenko’s contract might be his most attractive feature.
He carries only a $3.85 million cap hit for 2026-27 before becoming a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in 2027. Columbus therefore maintains significant contractual control, which also strengthens Waddell’s negotiating position.
Montreal, meanwhile, currently projects to have approximately $9.78 million in 2026-27 cap space with a 21-player projected roster.
That gives us some simple but important math.
In other words, Montreal does not need Columbus to retain salary to make a Marchenko trade work.
If Montreal acquired him without sending salary back, the Canadiens would still project to have roughly $5.93 million in available space.
From my perspective, that changes the discussion considerably.
The obstacle isn’t money.
It’s Waddell’s asking price.
What Would a Canadiens Trade for Marchenko Actually Cost?
This is where Canadiens fans may have to temper expectations.
Waddell isn’t overseeing a rebuilding team looking to turn an established scorer into three future lottery tickets. Columbus is trying to win, and moving a 67-point winger earning $3.85 million only makes sense if the return helps the Blue Jackets now or gives them an asset they believe can become an important NHL player quickly.
Recent Montreal speculation has also suggested that Michael Hage isn’t a prospect the Canadiens want to move in a Marchenko deal.
That creates the central problem.
A first-round pick is valuable. A prospect is valuable. But why would Columbus weaken its current lineup for a futures-heavy package if Waddell believes his team can compete?
I don’t believe a package built around spare parts such as a depth player and a mid-round draft pick gets this conversation anywhere.
Montreal would probably have to make Waddell uncomfortable.
A realistic trade framework, rather than a reported offer, might have to include:
2027 first-round pick + NHL-ready young forward + quality secondary prospect or additional premium draft asset
Even that doesn’t guarantee Columbus says yes.
The Blue Jackets currently project to have approximately $12.65 million in cap space, which also weakens the theory that Columbus must dump Marchenko simply for financial reasons.
That is why I would categorize Marchenko as available only at a premium, rather than genuinely being on the trade block.
The Earlier Marchenko Trade Report Didn’t Come True — But the Story Isn’t Dead
This part matters.
Back in July, a report citing a source close to Marchenko suggested a trade was nearing completion. That deal never happened. Blue Jackets beat reporters subsequently pushed back on the idea that anything was imminent, and Waddell continued saying he expected Marchenko in Columbus.
That earlier report therefore did not prove accurate within the timeframe suggested.
But the newest comments shouldn’t simply be dismissed because of that.
Waddell has now confirmed teams have called. His message isn’t that Marchenko is untouchable. It’s that Columbus controls the situation and won’t make a trade unless it improves the Blue Jackets.
That’s a subtle but significant distinction.
Kirill Marchenko Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 292 | 102 | 106 | 208 | 8 |
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
My Read on the Kirill Marchenko Trade Rumors
If I’m Kent Hughes, I’m calling.
But I’m also refusing to negotiate against myself.
Marchenko would be an outstanding addition for Montreal. His age, production and contract make him exactly the type of player a rising team should target. Put another proven scorer into a young Canadiens forward group featuring Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky and Demidov, and suddenly Montreal’s offensive ceiling looks considerably different.
But Waddell has leverage.
Marchenko is under contract. He’s still controllable as an RFA next summer. Columbus has cap space. And the Blue Jackets don’t have to trade him simply because other teams want him.
That means the Canadiens should remain aggressive without becoming reckless.
If Columbus eventually decides the long-term relationship with Marchenko isn’t going to work, Montreal has the assets and cap flexibility to become a serious bidder.
Until then, this feels less like an inevitable trade and more like a staring contest.
The interesting part is that Waddell just acknowledged there are other general managers staring back.
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