Have the Columbus Blue Jackets changed their stance on the NHL trade status of Montreal Canadiens’ trade target and winger Kirill Marchenko?
In a recent interview, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell indicated that if an NHL trade offer that came his way made sense for the Blue Jackets, then he would consider it.
“He’s a player under contract,” Waddell told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Post Dispatch this past Sunday. “We control the situation, like with every player under contract. Teams have called me, but if we’re going to make a deal, it’s going to be a deal that helps the Columbus Blue Jackets.”
That last part is interesting because according to a trusted NHL source just under two weeks ago, Waddell had made it clear to an interested Marchenko NHL trade market that he would not be trading the 26-year-old Russian winger.
“He’s not trading Marchenko,” the source told Murphy’s Hockey Law.
An email to that same source early Monday night was not returned as of the time this article went live.
*UPDATE*
After the article was published, the source got back to Murphy’s Hockey Law and had this to say:
“I don’t think his position has changed at all. I think the last part of that quote just speaks to the fact it would have to be a deal that makes sense for the club to consider it.”
However, a call to another NHL source with knowledge of the Montreal Canadiens’ NHL trade interest in Marchenko told Murphy’s Hockey Law that if Waddell is in fact willing to ‘really consider’ trading Marchenko, the Montreal Canadiens will be right at the front of the line of NHL trade suitors.
“Their interest hasn’t waned and they have been checking in [on Marchenko],” the source told Murphy’s Hockey Law.
Kirill Marchenko, 26, is entering the final season of a three $11.5 million ($3.8M AAV) contract. Just after the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, reports surfaced that Marchenko, and reigning Norris Trophy winner and Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (two seasons left at $9.5M AAV) were leaning towards not signing extensions with Columbus. After staying silent and letting the story simmer for a bit, Werenski eventually did his best to extinguish the flames for now, but not only did Marchenko never deny the rumors on him, his agent Dan Millstein continued to fan the flames with a tweet.
https://x.com/HockeyAgent1/status/2081164324588949820
With rising star forward and restricted free agent Adam Fantilli still not signed for the upcoming season, and the recent five-year, $90 million ($18M AAV) offer sheet Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson signed after the Ducks matched the offer from the Philadelphia Flyers, is Waddell now willing to sacrifice Marchenko to lock in the 21-year-old Fantilli?
“I’m not sure but it appears he’s willing to at least seriously listen to offers,” the above source said.
So, if that’s the case, what would it take for the Canadiens to acquire Marchenko?
“I can tell you this, the Canadiens won’t budge on Michael Hage,” the source said.
