6 Teams Wanted Marchenko: Why Columbus Picked the Maple Leafs

When the Toronto Maple Leafs finalized their trade for Kirill Marchenko, it capped off a summer-long chase that involved far more than just Toronto. First, few people realized Toronto was as interested in Marchenko as they were. They coveted the player, but tried to keep it quiet. Second, according to multiple insiders, the Montreal Canadiens pushed hard for Marchenko for months, so the Maple Leafs were able to talk with Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell and keep those conversations mostly undetected.

Ultimately, Montreal — and every other suitor that kicked tires — couldn’t put together a package that Columbus wanted. Toronto could. That led to Monday’s blockbuster trade.

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Waddell knew what he wanted if he were to trade Marchenko, the team’s top goal scorer and a legitimate star in the making. He fielded calls all summer from some fairly prominent teams with real interest. Frank Seravalli said on Frankly Hockey that Montreal had a massive offer on the table as far back as June, but in the end that offer didn’t include a top player the Blue Jackets could insert into the lineup immediately. He explained that any real offer from Montreal would have meant including one of Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovský or Cole Caufield, a price the Canadiens understandably weren’t willing to pay.

Chris Johnston also reported that Montreal was the other team that really wanted Marchenko, but the Canadiens didn’t have a roster player comparable to Matthew Knies that they were both able and willing to send back.

The Blue Jackets Waited to Get the Right Deal for Marchenko

Elliotte Friedman went further into what shifted things on Columbus’s side. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell didn’t feel pressure to move an unhappy Marchenko immediately, especially with Columbus hoping to compete for a playoff spot. Friedman pointed to three factors that changed Waddell’s mind: no team offered a player as appealing as Knies, who is locked into a team-friendly deal; the Maple Leafs valued Marchenko so highly that they were willing to take on both Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood to the deal; and Marchenko’s relationship with head coach Rick Bowness had grown tense.

Friedman also noted an interesting wrinkle. Months ago, word was that Marchenko would have gone to Montreal without any hesitation, but he was reportedly less sure about Toronto. Whatever his early reservations were, he came around when the deal actually came together.

As for Montreal’s effort, Friedman said the Canadiens were aggressive all summer and got creative near the end, even trying to loop in third teams to help absorb Columbus’s cap hit or offer more appealing pieces. “As for the extension, I do think the Canadiens would have done the six years, $12.5 million AAV Toronto did — even if it altered their tight salary structure.”

Other teams were in the mix as well: the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, and Tampa Bay. “No doubt others,” writes Friedman. Waddell confirmed that no other offers came close because no one had the Knies factor.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets & More Drama?