What Happened
The Toronto Maple Leafs are acquiring forward Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade reported Monday by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Toronto also receives forward Miles Wood and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, with some salary retained. Columbus gets forward Matthew Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenceman Emil Andrae and a second-round pick. Marchenko will sign a six-year contract extension with a $12.5 million AAV as part of the deal, according to his agent.
Key Details
- Marchenko's extension carries a $12.5M AAV over six years, per his agent
- Marchenko was due to become an RFA after a $3.85M AAV contract
- Marchenko, 26, had 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games last season
- Knies, who turns 24 next month, has 67 goals and 160 points in 240 games
- Knies is signed for five more seasons at a $7.75M AAV
- Columbus receives Lorentz, Andrae and a second-round pick along with Knies
What It Means
Toronto reshapes its top six by swapping the 23-year-old Knies for Marchenko, a 26-year-old winger coming off a 27-goal season, and commits $12.5 million annually to him through the extension. Columbus gains a younger forward in Knies on a long-term deal plus additional pieces, ending a situation where Marchenko had indicated he did not intend to re-sign.
What's Next
Marchenko joins Toronto on his new six-year extension, while Knies moves to Columbus with five seasons remaining on his contract. The trade lands on the eve of the regular season, so both clubs will integrate the new players quickly.