Kirill Marchenko is back in Columbus, returning from Russia recently to skate with his Blue Jackets teammates a week before training camp opens. Player medical evaluations are Sept. 16 at Nationwide Arena.
However, trade speculation hasn't subsided since ESPN issued an on-air report June 26 saying Marchenko, 26, isn't interested in staying long-term, and there is continued trade interest in him from opposing teams.
The report caught Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell by surprise because Marchenko gave no indication that he was unhappy during his April exit interviews, but he's listened to trade proposals for two-plus months. He'll keep listening, too, unless
Marchenko changes his mind or a deal materializes to help the Blue Jackets chase their goal of qualifying for the playoffs this season.
Otherwise, prepare to watch Marchenko play with the Blue Jackets for at least one more season and possibly the next two before he's free to leave as an unrestricted free agent. That, in a nutshell, was Waddell's message while making a guest appearance Sept. 9 on "The Sick Podcast," featuring former NBC analyst Pierre McGuire as co-host.
"Like I've said, every player on my roster is tradable if you get the right deal," Waddell said. "In Kirill's case, he's our leading goal-scorer, puts up a lot of points and goals, and he's got a great cap hit for one more year [$3.85 million]. So, we can't just take him out of our lineup and not replace that."
In other words, don't expect the Blue Jackets to accept a trade rooted in draft picks and/or prospects for their leading goal-scorer. Waddell wants proven NHL talent and offensive production in return, likely with players around the same age or younger. Picks or prospects would be filler.
"I've been on this side of the trade too many times," Waddell said, referring to trades he made as GM of the former Atlanta Thrashers. "When you're trading the best player in the deal, it's hard to make a good deal, because you always give up the best player. You get a lot of pieces and a lot of assets, but you still don't get the best piece. So, that's our concern. Regardless of what Kirill or the agent wants, he's an important part of our team right now, and he's got a great cap hit. I'm not replacing his talent and his goals at [$3.85 million], that's for sure."
Marchenko has topped 20 goals in all four seasons he's played, including a team-high 27 last season. He's either led or co-led the Blue Jackets in goals the past three seasons and has that economical cap hit going into a season when the upper limit of the NHL's hard salary cap ballooned from $95.5 million to $104 million.
Still needing to re-sign top center Adam Fantilli for what's expected to be a deal worth $13-$15 million per season, having Marchenko at his current salary is almost priceless for the Blue Jackets, who'll also own Marchenko's signing rights for 2027-28 if he's not traded.
His next contract, however, will include a huge raise regardless of length and which team is signing the checks, and the Blue Jackets signing him to a one-year contract next summer would walk him straight into unrestricted free agency July 1, 2028, which would allow him to leave without the Jackets being compensated.
Marchenko's agent, Dan Milstein, hasn't replied to multiple attempts by The Dispatch to reach him, while Waddell continues to stand firm with training camp looming.
Columbus Blue Jackets assessing veteran free agents for PTOs
Waddell said the Blue Jackets are assessing the pool of available veteran free agents and plan to sign one or more on Professional Tryout Offers prior to camp. Look for at least one PTO goalie at camp with Elvis Merzlikins' timeline still uncertain following Aug. 17 shoulder surgery, and the Jackets could also bring a forward and/or defensemen to camp on a PTO.
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Kirill Marchenko is back with Columbus Blue Jackets, but for how long?
