Columbus Blue Jackets
Insider Doubts Canadiens and Blue Jackets Trade, Given What’s Needed in the Deal
While one insider notes the Montreal Canadiens are in on Kirill Marchenko. another says he doesn’t see a fit given what’s needed in the deal.
Popular opinion suggests the Montreal Canadiens would be the frontrunners in a trade involving Kirill Marchenko. While the Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t elected to shop the winger or decided to trade him, GM Don Waddell did admit that he’s listening to any GM who comes to him with a solid trade idea. After all, that’s his job. The Canadiens, meanwhile, would love to add a cost-controlled top-six forward to their group.
That said, analyst and hockey insider Pierre McGuire says he doesn’t “see a fit there.”
Jimmy Murphy of The Sick Podcast interviewed McGuire and discussed Waddell’s comments that the Columbus Blue Jackets want a player back. If they’re going to trade Marchenko — their leading goal scorer — they want a player in return that will help fill a hole left by the exit of so much offense. Murphy said that he doesn’t know what piece the Canadiens would trade in that situation.
McGuire responded, “As soon as he said that, playing for roster legit hockey trade I don’t know if there’s something on the Canadiens that fits that mold “As soon as he said that… I didn’t want to get everybody angry in Montreal, but as soon as he said that, I’m like, yeah, but I don’t see the fit there. Maybe there is; I don’t personally see it.”
If the Blue Jackets want a roster player for a roster player trade, the Canadiens will have to give up someone useful. That’s not what Kent Hughes is looking to do. He wants to improve his team, not remove a solid piece to add one. If there’s an obvious upgrade, no doubt he’d consider it. Waddell isn’t looking to lose the trade. He’s been on the end of a deal where he’s traded the best player far too often and he’s not interested in taking a bunch of lesser-thans to make this deal happen.
Waddell said, “Every player on our roster, for the most part, is tradable if you get the right deal.” He added that in Marchenko’s case, he puts up a lot of points and goals and you know and he’s got a great cap hit, I think it’s $3.85M, for one more year, so we can’t just take him out of our lineup and not replace that.”
Elliotte Friedman mentioned on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Montreal Canadiens have been in on Marchenko, but they aren’t the only ones. The New York Islanders have kicked the tires on the player as well. Waddell told Mark Scheig of The Hockey News, “I’ve gotten calls, obviously. I got to listen to teams when they call me. That’s part of my daily routine. If someone calls me and wants to talk about what they want to offer … but as we sit here today (Wednesday morning), I don’t have anything. I’m not contemplating anything right now.”
Next: 5 Potential Landing Spots for Chris Kreider
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