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Big Plans in Toronto Might Have Changed Thanks to the Marchenko Trade
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a blockbuster trade and it impacts the team in many ways.
On the eve of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade that could have a significant impact on how the team lines up on offence. The multi-player deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets saw the Maple Leafs acquire Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood, and Elvis Merzlikins in exchange for Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and a 2027 Second-Round Pick.
The pick will be either Columbus’ or the Winnipeg Jets’ depending on which one comes later in the draft. The Blue Jackets are also retaining $972,000 on Merzlikins’ contract. Combined, the deal saves Columbus about $128,000 in cap space, while the Leafs take the same hit.
Merzlikins is expected to be on LTIR and miss potentially the entire season after recent surgery. Elliotte Friedman noted in his recent 32 Thoughts written column: “Will Merzlikins be declared unfit to play this season, so the Maple Leafs can access his full cap hit for LTIR usage? The league and NHLPA would have to sign off, but it would make him ineligible through the playoffs. There is talk that it’s not an unrealistic scenario.”
Meanwhile, Wood has already passed waivers and will undoubtedly be moved to the Toronto Marlies. Friedman added, “Injuries have limited his effectiveness, but if he can stick to straight lines and pursuit, he can contribute.”
The future is unclear for Merzlikins and Wood, but Marchenko is a serious player who will be a key piece to Jim Hiller‘s new-look team. His addition should shake up how the offense could line up early this year.
How the Maple Leafs Offence Could Look
Throughout the summer, the expectation has been that Jack Roslovic would take the top-line right-wing spot beside Auston Matthews, with Matthew Knies holding down the left side until Gavin McKenna showed that he was ready to be elevated.
With Marchenko, a right-shooting winger, now in the fold, things could be quite different. The Russian could play on the left side, keeping Roslovic on the right with Matthews, but it seems more beneficial to keep him on his preferred side. This would move Roslovic down to the third line, potentially partnering Nick Paul on the left with Bo Groulx—who impressed last season in limited time and again this summer —centering the pair.
This would make the fourth line a clear checking and shutdown group, with Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger, and Colton Sissons penned in, with Zach MacEwan rotating in and out for an effective bottom group. They are defensively sound, and MacEwan and Duhaime’s physicality would create headaches for opposing players.
The second line will remain static for now, with Gavin McKenna on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Meanwhile, Easton Cowan could move up to the first line to support and complement Matthews and Marchenko’s respective skill sets.
The full line-up could look something like this:
| Easton Cowan | Auston Matthews | Kirill Marchenko |
| Gavin McKenna | John Tavares | William Nylander |
| Nick Paul | Bo Groulx | Jack Roslovic |
| Brandon Duhaime | Teddy Blueger | Colton Sissons |
Easton Cowan’s Big Chance
Cowan has already impressed new head coach Hiller, who commented that he was a standout in practice and believed he could be a ‘straw that stirs the drink’ when it comes to the team’s offence.
While he began camp playing alongside Paul and Sissons, the shuffle at the top should present Cowan with an excellent opportunity to become a facilitator with an edge that helps free up Matthews and Marchenko to play their skilled game more freely.
Cowan will hunt down the puck, being a strong addition to the forecheck, use his own brand of physicality and tenacity to allow Matthews more space in the middle, or at least the ability to find the space he needs, with Marchenko also able to draw attention with his own offensive talents.
Hiller is already a fan of what Cowan can do, so it would not be surprising to see him moved up to the top line to see if he can be effective in the role while McKenna adapts to the NHL and gets more minutes under his belt. Once this year’s first-overall pick has shown he is ready for the responsibility, Cowan could then simply slot in alongside Tavares and Nylander to give them the same support that he should give Matthews and Marchenko.
Bo Groulx’s Opportunity
Bo Groulx is a player the Toronto Maple Leafs clearly appreciate, as he was not included in the many players waived ahead of Monday’s camp compliance deadline.
Groulx was an important player for the Marlies last season, being nearly a point-per-game player in the regular season before adding 14 points in 23 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup victory. His strong showing, and the Leafs’ heavily depleted roster toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign, earned Groulx a 13-game stint with the team.
Groulx endeared himself to many and looked comfortable in the third-line center role, scoring three goals and totaling five points. This matched Groulx’s entire career NHL points total, which he achieved in 65 games prior to joining the Leafs organization, and he should continue to succeed under Hiller’s guidance.
Playing on a line with Paul and Roslovic should suit Groulx’s skill set, with the third line providing valuable depth scoring for the Leafs while the top two lines are expected to carry the offensive load. A fourth line focused purely on defense and physicality creates a nice middle ground for the third line to succeed and support the team’s stars on nights when more players need to contribute.
Groulx could still rotate in and out of the lineup, potentially with MacEwan and Duhaime, giving the Maple Leafs flexibility, but he should eventually solidify as the third-line center and build a well-rounded roster for Hiller to work with.
Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Blue Jackets & More Drama?
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