Kirill Marchenko has been many things since he started his career with the Jackets back in the 2022-23 season. A dynamic winger with natural top line talent, a consummate professional and easy going teammate in the locker room, and a gifted natural goal scorer with a wicked shot; capable of beating most NHL goalies clean. But much like other great players who made pitstops in Columbus in the past, Marchenko's days might be numbered with the Jackets entering this season.
Marchenko is coming off yet another really solid season with Columbus. The 26-year-old Russian right winger finished just shy of his career bests he'd set the previous year. 2026-26 broght 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 76 games from Kirill, putting him second on the team in points, and first among forwards. The 30 goal 40 assist standard he has set in place is one that the Jackets have benefitted greatly from over the last couple seasons.
Points are far from the only way Marchenko has helped the Jackets, though. Because his contract was one of the many "prove-it" deals handed out to young players by Don Waddell early in his Columbus tenure during the depths of the rebuild. With just a yearly cap hit of just $3.85 million the last 2 years, he has been one of the most valuable low-cost top-line players in the league in that span. However, as we may soon see, that contract also may be part of the reason for his departure this year.
Marchenko has just one year left on that sweetheart of a deal, and is due for a monster payday considering the money many similar free agents signed this offseason. In better circumstances, the right thing to do would be to pay your most talented forward what he's worth and lock him down long term. Unfortunately, a couple wrenches have been thrown into that plan.
The elephant sized wrench in the room comes in the form of his comments that surfaced from Marchenko's camp back in July and were reported by Kevin Weekes. It became clear that Marchenko was taking after Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky all those years ago, and letting the front office know early that re-signing with the CBJ is not in his plans at the moment. The pressure is on for Waddell to make some big decisions regarding Kirill this year, and the clock is ticking.
It's easy to forget in the midst of the record-breaking offseason the NHL has had, but rumors of a "blockbuster deal" that would've sent Marchenko to the Montreal made the rounds shortly after Weekes' tweet. The Habs supposedly pushed hard, but Waddell decided to hang on to Marchenko and kick the can down the road until closer to the season.
👀 This literally off the press, Marchenko’s camp tells me that as of now he’s unlikely to re sign with @BlueJacketsNHL
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 27, 2026
as of now. #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/SpqykU0uMr
Even without the trade going through, and Montreal's additions elsewhere this offseason that would make a Marchenko trade much less likely now, there's one more big reason he may be sent packing soon.
The last big piece of business that has gotten harder and harder to ignore as we draw closer to camp is the Adam Fantilli contract. With the season just weeks away, our homegrown 3rd overall pick center remains an RFA, and there may not be enough cap space to meet his demands as is. The nearly $4 million that would be freed up by a Marchenko move would likely do the trick.
It may not seem ideal, but the Ducks just went through a very similar situation with Cutter Gauthier. A situation they only got out of when veteran Chris Kreider agreed to be waived, along with his cap hit, off the Ducks' books and onto a new team.
Adding to all of this the lengthy trade-protected deals the Jackets have anchored themselves to elsewhere like Sean Monahan, Valeri Nichushkin, and Charlie Coyle, and there just isn't enough space to keep everyone.
I would love nothing more than to see Marchenko start and finish the season as a Jacket. He has been a joy to watch since his rookie year where he put up a hilarious 21 goal 4 assist stat line. He's one of the most entertaining Jackets I have had the privilege to root for. But signs are pointing to a change in scenery soon.
Where exactly he ends up is still up in the air, as is what Waddell may be asking for in return. The "when" of the matter may be tricky too. With Elvis Merzlikins injury opening some cap room for a limited time, it's not out of the question for him to start the season with the CBJ. If that's the case, I'm sure he'll give everything he can to Columbus as long as he's here.
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