The Kirill Marchenko trade rumors flared up again over the weekend. After RG Media reported on Saturday that the sweepstakes were down to two teams, everyone began speculating on the potential trade and what their team might give up to get him.
Even after those rumors were proven false, folks continue to put together mock deals for the budding star winger. There's just one problem: the Blue Jackets are not trading him. At least, not for what has been offered so far.
Local media has refuted the idea across the board, reiterating the fact that Don Waddell has made clear since Kevin Weekes had mouth diarrhea at the draft: they are not trading this player away at this time, unless someone blows them out of the water with an offer they cannot refuse.
So far, that obviously hasn't happened. The player's own agent pointed that out in a very candid way on Twitter/X on Saturday night:
Can’t confirm or deny, but last I checked there were some pretty steep tariffs on exporting elite talent to or from Canada right now… #WeAreGoldStar https://t.co/e91gFD21pa
— Dan Milstein (@HockeyAgent1) July 25, 2026
The Blue Jackets are trying to win now.
In a lot of instances, I could see a team moving a player like Marchenko if he did not want to re-sign with them. However, nothing is going to change for the Blue Jackets between now and the time his contract is up.
They will still own his rights as an RFA, which means they can punt this decision off until next summer. And, they aren't in a place where a handful of futures or some depth pieces are going to do them any good. This team wants to win now.
That immediately complicates any trade idea that other teams can put together. After all, where else are you going to find a top line winger signed for under $4 million dollars against the cap?
Kirill Marchenko's value is through the roof, which is exactly why the Blue Jackets should let this play out. He's under contract here next season, and they aren't getting his replacement via any of the trade ideas we have seen floated around. Nor do we want to see them get a handful of futures.
Waddell's strategy seems to be playing out the string and hoping that he can convince Marchenko to sign with the Blue Jackets next summer. That's exactly how he should be handling this situation. Unless someone gives you a stupid overpayment, you are better off with #86 on your roster.
Winning cures all. Hopefully the team can turn the corner and keep their talented young superstar around long-term.
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