The Montreal Canadiens appear determined to add another impact forward, and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko has emerged as one of the most intriguing names connected to Kent Hughes.
Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that the Canadiens are among the teams showing interest in Marchenko, while other NHL insiders have indicated that clubs are calling Columbus general manager Don Waddell to determine whether the productive winger could become available.
That does not mean a trade is close. The Columbus Blue Jackets are reportedly not actively shopping Marchenko, and moving a 25-year-old winger who has produced near a point-per-game pace over the last two seasons would require a major return.
However, it is easy to understand why the Montreal Canadiens are investigating the situation. Marchenko has the size, shooting ability, age and offensive instincts to complement Montreal’s emerging core. He could provide Ivan Demidov with an established finishing threat while giving the Canadiens another legitimate scoring option beyond Cole Caufield.
Kirill Marchenko Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 292 | 102 | 106 | 208 | 8 |
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Why Kirill Marchenko Is a Strong Fit for the Montreal Canadiens
Marchenko is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he registered 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. That followed a breakout 2024-25 campaign that saw him record 31 goals and 74 points in 79 games.
Over those two seasons, Marchenko combined for 58 goals and 141 points in 155 games. That level of production would immediately place him among Montreal’s most dangerous offensive forwards.
The attraction goes beyond his point totals.
Marchenko is a 6-foot-3 right-shot winger who can score from distance, attack off the rush and create offence around the net. Montreal already possesses several talented puck carriers and playmakers, but adding a bigger winger who can consistently finish scoring opportunities would make the forward group more difficult to defend.
He is also only 25. Unlike an older rental acquired for one playoff run, Marchenko could remain part of Montreal’s core throughout the team’s competitive window alongside Demidov, Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson.
Marchenko Could Unlock Ivan Demidov and Balance Montreal’s Top Six
The potential fit with Ivan Demidov may be the most compelling reason for the Montreal Canadiens to pursue this trade.
Demidov is most dangerous when he has the puck and can force defenders to collapse toward him. Marchenko would give him a large, mobile shooting option capable of finding open space and converting difficult passes into goals.
A Demidov-Marchenko combination could also improve the balance of Montreal’s power play. Opposing penalty killers must already account for Caufield’s shot and Hutson’s creativity. Adding another proven goal scorer would make it much harder to overload one side of the ice.
Marchenko’s current contract is another major advantage. He carries a $3.85-million cap hit through the 2026-27 season and remains under team control as a restricted free agent when the deal expires.
A basic cap-efficiency calculation shows how valuable that contract has been. Marchenko produced 141 points over the last two seasons while carrying a combined $7.7 million in cap charges. That works out to approximately $54,600 in cap space per point.
That calculation is not a complete player-valuation system, but it illustrates why his current contract is such an attractive asset.
NHLTradeRumor.com editorial trade-fit model:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Age and Montreal’s timeline | 9/10 |
| Proven offensive production | 9/10 |
| Current contract value | 9/10 |
| Fit beside Ivan Demidov | 9/10 |
| Acquisition-cost risk | 5/10 |
| Overall trade-fit score | 8.2/10 |
This is an original editorial model based on age, production, contract value, lineup fit and the anticipated acquisition cost. It is not based on private information from either team.
The biggest obstacle is what Columbus would demand.
The Blue Jackets have little reason to trade Marchenko unless they believe signing him to another long-term contract will become difficult. He is young, productive and signed to one of the better value contracts on their roster.
From my perspective, Montreal would likely need to offer a first-round selection together with a premium prospect or young NHL player. That is my estimate rather than a reported trade proposal.
The Canadiens must also determine what Marchenko’s next contract could cost. His current $3.85-million cap hit is excellent value, but another productive season could put him in position to pursue a substantial long-term raise. Hughes should not surrender premium assets without having a clear understanding of Marchenko’s willingness to sign in Montreal.
Columbus’ acquisition of Valeri Nichushkin adds another accomplished winger to its roster and may provide Waddell with additional flexibility. It should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that Marchenko will be traded, but it gives interested teams another reason to keep calling.
My take is that Marchenko represents the type of calculated swing Montreal should consider. He fits the age of the Canadiens’ core, has already established himself as a top-six scorer and could form a dangerous partnership with Demidov.
Montreal should pursue him aggressively, but not recklessly. Demidov and Hutson should remain untouchable, and the Canadiens should avoid weakening multiple areas of their young roster for one winger. If the package can be constructed around draft capital and a valuable non-core asset, Marchenko would be a significant addition.
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