Maple Leafs Acquire Kirill Marchenko in Blockbuster Trade with Blue Jackets

Toronto acquired Columbus' leading goal scorer Kirill Marchenko and signed him to a six-year extension carrying a $12.5 million cap hit.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko, forward Miles Wood, and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets on the eve of the NHL regular season. According to a source told to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, Toronto sent top-line winger Matthew Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a 2027 second-round pick to Columbus. Marchenko, who led the Blue Jackets in goals for three consecutive seasons with 81 total tallies in 233 games, signed a six-year contract extension with the Maple Leafs featuring a $12.5 million annual cap hit.

Marchenko is expected to join star center Auston Matthews on Toronto’s top line. The 26-year-old forward recorded 208 points in 292 career games with Columbus after being drafted 49th overall in 2018. The Blue Jackets are retaining 18% of the $5.4 million salary of Merzlikins, a 32-year-old goaltender currently sidelined indefinitely following August shoulder surgery. Miles Wood joins the Leafs with a contract running through 2029 at a $2.5 million average annual value.

Columbus receives 23-year-old Matthew Knies, who recorded 66 points in 79 games last season and is signed through 2031 at a $7.75 million AAV. The deal also includes Steven Lorentz, signed through 2028 at $1.35 million, and 24-year-old defenseman Emil Andrae. The 2027 second-round selection involved in the transaction will be the later of the Winnipeg or Columbus picks originally held by the Seattle Kraken.