What Happened
Kirill Marchenko made his Toronto Maple Leafs debut Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, roughly 30 hours after being traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a seven-piece blockbuster deal. Marchenko, who had spent training camp and pre-season with Columbus, flew to Toronto late Monday and had no practice time with his new teammates. Head coach Jim Hiller was unsure Tuesday morning whether Marchenko would play. He recorded an assist 48 seconds into the game on William Nylander's opening goal.
Key Details
- Marchenko, 26, was traded Monday night in a seven-piece deal.
- He had zero practice time with Toronto before his debut.
- He recorded an assist 48 seconds into the game.
- He skated on the top line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic.
- Matthew Knies was traded to Columbus in the deal.
- Coach Jim Hiller was unsure Tuesday morning if Marchenko would play.
What It Means
Marchenko immediately stepped into Toronto's top-line role previously held by Matthew Knies, who was sent to Columbus. Despite no practice time, he showed offensive ability with several scoring chances, suggesting he can be a key contributor for the Maple Leafs this season.