The Kirill Marchenko contract mess with the Columbus Blue Jackets ended on Monday with a trade. The winger who totaled 27 goals and 66 points in 76 games last season and who's spent his four-year career in Columbus was shipped to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who gave him a new six-year deal worth $75 million, averaging out to $12.5 million a season.
In exchange? The Blue Jackets got back a young and productive forward in Matthew Knies, so they didn't lose Marchenko for nothing.
So who won or lost this deal? What are the details? As usual, let's hand out some trade grades for both sides and provide you with the return for both teams involved:
Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets trade details
BLUE JACKETS GET: F Matthew Knies, F Steven Lorentz, D Emil Andrae, 2027 second-round pick
MAPLE LEAFS GET: F Kirill
Marchenko (who gets a contract extension), F Miles Wood, G Elvis Merzļikins (18 percent retained)
Maple Leafs trade grade
It feels like the Maple Leafs gave up on Knies a bit too early. The 23-year-old forward had 67 goals and 160 points in 240 total games played. Not bombastic numbers by any means, but there was potential with Knies that had many slotting him in as a major part of the Maple Leafs' core for the future.
Instead, the Maple Leafs move on from Knies for Marchenko, who posted 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games for the Blue Jackets last season and has been regarded as a possible star in the making. Losing Knies hurts, due to his status as a homegrown talent, his team-friendly contract and his overall likability to fans. This move does make the Maple Leafs better in the short-term, as Marchenko is the best player in this deal, yet it's understandable to be a bit bummed if you're a Toronto fan.
Grade: B
Blue Jackets trade grade
Marchenko wasn't going to re-sign in Columbus, so general manager Don Waddell did tidy work in getting a solid return for him. Knies is still a bit rough around the edges, but has potential as a big-body forward and should work well alongside the newly re-signed Adam Fantilli.
Another big win here for Columbus is the 2027 second-round pick, which was the draft pick the Maple Leafs got from the Seattle Kraken, so there's high value there. It's a shame the Blue Jackets couldn't re-sign Marchenko, but the return here is as good as you could have hoped for if you're Columbus.
Grade: B
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Kirill Marchenko trade grades: Who won Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets deal?
