Columbus issues statement on a Kirill Marchenko trade

Daria Tuboltseva of RG reported that a source close to Marchenko says the Columbus Blue Jackets winger is nearing a trade, with two clubs negotiating terms.

The Montreal Canadiens were quickly slotted in as the frontrunner, and Habs fans spent the night building packages.

Then came the other side. A Columbus-side report said nothing is happening on the Marchenko front despite the rumors out of Russia, and that the Blue Jackets have not fielded calls on him since earlier this summer.

So the Montreal version appears not to be true. Right now it does not look like Marchenko is going anywhere at all.

In July 2024, Tuboltseva reported Marchenko had not received a worthy offer from Columbus.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic publicly pushed back on that framing.

Marchenko signed a three-year contract with the Blue Jackets on July 28, 2024. Same reporter, same team, same week on the calendar, and the opposite outcome to the one everyone expected.

Player-camp sources track the market. Team-side sources track the phone.

Those measure different things, which is why "nearing a trade" and "no calls" can coexist without either party lying.

Marchenko is entering the final year of a three-year, $11.55 million deal at a $3.85 million cap hit, per NHL.com, after 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games.

He becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in 2027, and general manager Don Waddell has said Marchenko will be a Blue Jacket when the season starts.

Leverage explains the noise better than an imminent deal does.

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