What Happened
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a seven-piece trade on the eve of the season and signed him to an extension. On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said the Montreal Canadiens were the most serious pursuer of Marchenko all summer, and that early in July the player was willing to go to Montreal but not keen on Toronto before that changed. Friedman also said Toronto felt pressure to resolve Matthew Knies' future, and Knies is now in Columbus.
Key Details
- Toronto acquired and extended Kirill Marchenko from Columbus in a seven-piece trade on the eve of the season.
- Friedman said Montreal was the hardest-chasing team for Marchenko all summer.
- Marchenko told Columbus he would not sign a new deal to stay with the Blue Jackets.
- Friedman said Marchenko was open to Montreal in early July but not Toronto, a stance that shifted.
- Matthew Knies went to Columbus; he had been in trade rumours since the March deadline.
- Friedman said Toronto knew Knies or his representation would demand clarity on his future.
What It Means
The trade gave Toronto a top forward while keeping him from a division rival that had pursued him for months. It also ended the uncertainty around Matthew Knies, whose name had circulated in trade talk since March, when he nearly went to Montreal. For Columbus, the return centres on Knies after Marchenko indicated he would not re-sign there.