Canadiens Trade Package for Kirill Marchenko — Would You Accept?

Kirill Marchenko’s name refuses to leave the rumour mill. He’s been linked to half the league all summer, but one team keeps popping up more than anyone else: the Montreal Canadiens. The fit has been obvious for months — Montreal’s Russian core is growing, their prospect pool is loaded with high‑end talent, and the organization has quietly become one of the most attractive landing spots for Russian players.

Ivan Demidov looks like a future star. Alexander Zharovsky and Gleb Pugachyov are rising prospects. The pipeline is real, and Marchenko would walk into a room young locker room where he can thrive.

And the cap situation? Montreal is one of the few teams that can comfortably sign Marchenko long‑term and still have room to maneuver. They have assets, flexibility, and a front office that has been itching to make a splash ever since their last‑minute Matthew Knies deal collapsed at the 2025 deadline.

This is the kind of move they’ve been waiting to make.

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Why Columbus Might Actually Move Him

Columbus looks done with the drama — and Marchenko looks done with Columbus.

His interviews have been uncomfortable. When asked if he likes playing in Columbus, he kept repeating that he “likes playing hockey.” Even when pressed, he wouldn’t commit to the city. It was awkward, telling, and exactly the kind of thing that makes a front office start exploring options.

Then came the Fantilli contract. Columbus signed their franchise center to a six‑year deal at $13.75M AAV, immediately pushing themselves $1.2M over the cap. They’ll get relief once Elvis Merzlikins hits LTIR, but they would like to be cap‑compliant first — and Marchenko’s $3.85M AAV is the cleanest way to get there.

The problem? Columbus wants roster players back, and most of Montreal’s meaningful pieces make more than Marchenko. That complicates things, but it doesn’t kill the idea.

If Columbus wants to reset the room, shed cap, and remove a player who clearly isn’t committing long‑term, this is the moment.

What Montreal Can Offer

Montreal has one of the deepest asset pools in the league. If they want Marchenko, they can pay.

• Michael Hage — a 20‑year‑old right‑shot center who looks like he could be elite.
• Alexander Zharovsky — a Russian prospect who fits the cultural angle perfectly.
• Alexandre Texier — a familiar face for Columbus, signed at a tidy $2.5M AAV.
• Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault — all pieces Montreal would consider in the right deal.
• Zack Bolduc — another young forward they’d move.

They also hold all of their first‑ and second‑round picks for the next three drafts. If Montreal wants to swing big, they have the ammunition.

Their forward group is skilled but small. Outside of Juraj Slafkovsky and Josh Anderson, they lack size in the top six. They brought in Kreider, but he could then move down to the third line to support there. Marchenko — 6’3”, 201 pounds, a 30‑goal scorer — fits perfectly.

The Offer

Blue Jackets Receive:

• Michael Hage
• Alexandre Texier
• 2027 1st round pick
• 2028 1st round pick

Canadiens Receive:

• Kirill Marchenko (Signed for seven years, $15M AAV)

Who Says No?

Montreal would hate giving up Hage — he’s a premium prospect — but they’d do it for a sure thing. Marchenko is a proven top‑six winger with size, scoring, and upside. Texier’s cap hit helps Columbus get compliant, and he returns to the team that drafted him.

Montreal essentially pays three firsts (Hage + two picks) plus Texier. For a player like Marchenko, they’d stomach it.

Columbus gets a potential star center in Hage, a familiar and reliable winger in Texier, and two first‑round picks to rebuild their prospect pool. They also get under the cap, which matters.

If Montreal tries to keep Hage, the deal shifts — Zharovsky becomes the centerpiece, but that weakens the Russian connection they want to build around Marchenko. The Canadiens know that if they want Marchenko to stay long‑term, surrounding him with Russian teammates matters.

This deal only happens if Montreal gets Marchenko signed long‑term. Otherwise, they’re not paying this price.

Comparable Deals

This fits neatly into the market we’ve seen:

• Brady Tkachuk: three firsts and a second. More physical, slightly older, signed long‑term to a more team friendly deal.
• Mason McTavish: 15th + 29th overall. Younger, cheaper, but not as impactful as Marchenko. Also signed to a more team friendly deal.
• JJ Peterka: two firsts. Younger, cheaper, but not as good. However, is also signed to a more team friendly deal.

Marchenko is arguably the best player of the group, and his price reflects that.

Why This Helps Both Teams

The Canadiens get a 6’3 201 pound 30 goal scorer, who has averaged right around 70 points the last two seasons. The Canadiens have a lot more firepower than Columbus and score a lot more, so those totals could jump even higher on a young Habs team, and he slots in nicely into their top six.

Columbus gets a stud young center prospect in Hage, a fill in on the right wing with a familiar player in Texier, and multiple first round picks. They also get just under the cap in the deal, which is something that would be enticing for them. They move on from a player that clearly seems to want out, and move forward without the distraction of any more of those awkward interviews.

This would be a true blockbuster, the kind of deal that shakes the league but still leaves both teams feeling like they won. Trades with mutual happiness are almost extinct in the modern NHL, which is exactly why the rare ones become the most unforgettable.

Next: Kucherov to Montreal? A Wild Scenario That Could Suddenly Be Real