Canadian team deep in Kirill Marchenko trade talks as deal may be imminent, per Elliotte Friedman

Update: Pierre LeBrun reveals Matthew Knies is involved in the Marchenko trade talks.

Things are heating up in Toronto this afternoon.

Elliotte Friedman reports the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets are deep in discussions on a trade involving winger Kirill Marchenko, with more details still to come.

TSN's Chris Johnston added that no extension is in place between Marchenko and the Leafs, though those talks are expected to pick up this afternoon, per sources.

The account Hockey Insider went further, saying its source confirmed Toronto has an offer that Columbus values more than the one from the Boston Bruins.

That package is reportedly centered around Matthew Knies.

Keep in mind that claim rests on one source, and the Friedman and Johnston reports do not mention Knies.

Knies is 23 and began the second year of a six-year, $46.5 million contract that carries a $7.75 million cap hit.

He scored 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games last season, so he would give Columbus a ready-made NHL forward.

That lines up with what Columbus is chasing.

Per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, general manager Don Waddell has told other teams Marchenko is available only for immediate scoring help, and he wants an NHL player back instead of picks and prospects.

Marchenko, a second-round pick by Columbus in 2018, scored 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games last season.

He has topped 20 goals in all four of his NHL seasons, including a career-high 31 goals and 74 points in 2024-25.

He also carries just a $3.85 million cap hit in the final year of his deal.

Waddell vowed back in July that Marchenko would open the season with the Blue Jackets, so any deal before puck drop would be a notable shift.

Stay tuned, because this one is moving fast.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Oilers make surprising AHL roster move and fans aren't too happy