The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded for and signed Kirill Marchenko, a 26-year-old Russian forward from the Columbus Blue Jackets, in a deal worth US$75 million over six years. In return, the Leafs send young power forward Matthew Knies to Columbus along with other assets. This move aims to bolster Toronto’s playoff chances after missing the postseason last year despite star-studded offensive talent like Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Maple Leafs traded for right winger Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets on the eve of the 2026-27 NHL season in a surprising move. The deal saw Toronto acquiring Marchenko, along with goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and winger Miles Wood, while sending Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and a second-round draft pick to Columbus. Marchenko, who scored 27 goals last season, signed a six-year, $75 million contract with the Leafs post-trade. The deal was completed despite initial reluctance from both teams, with negotiations pushing right up against Monday’s roster deadline.
Written for “Maple Leafs Trade Deal” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
The Maple Leafs have added another skilled forward to their roster reload.
asserted
Leafs → add → reload
Toronto acquired winger Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster trade Monday on the eve of the new NHL season, then signed the winger to a six-year, US$75 million contract.
asserted
Toronto → acquire → contract
Marchenko’s agent, Dan Milstein, announced the contract on his verified X account.
asserted
agent → announce → account
Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and winger Miles Wood are also headed to Toronto, while the Maple Leafs are parting with young power forward Matthew Knies, veteran centre Steven Lorentz, defenceman Emil Andrae and a second-round pick.
asserted
Leafs → head → Knies
The Blue Jackets are retaining 18 per cent of Merzlikins’ salary.
asserted
Jackets → retain → salary
Marchenko had 102 goals and 106 assists for 208 points across 292 games with Columbus after being selected 49th overall at the 2018 NHL draft.
asserted
Marchenko → have → draft
The 26-year-old, who is heading into the final season of a contract with an average annual value of $3.85 million, led the Blue Jackets with 27 goals and added 40 assists last season to finish second in team scoring with 67 points in 76 contests.
asserted
who → head → contests
In Knies, the Blue Jackets get a forward who battled injury last season, but still finished with a career-best 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists) in 79 contests.
asserted
who → get → contests
Marchenko, who made his NHL debut in 2022 after beginning his professional career in the Russian-based KHL, joins Toronto after the club missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade despite a lineup featuring offensive stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares.
asserted
club → make → Matthews
The winger from Barnaul, Russia, was selected by Columbus in the second round (49th overall) of the 2018 NHL draft.
asserted
winger → select → draft
The Maple Leafs appeared to be at a crossroads last spring with plenty of draft capital and prospects having already been shipped out of town for past post-season pushes, but got lucky and beat the draft lottery odds for the right to select winger Gavin McKenna first overall in June.
asserted
plenty → appear → June
General manager John Chayka then went about a lineup renovation that included the additions of two-time Stanley Cup winner Sergei Bobrovsky in goal, Darren Raddysh on defence, and a supporting cast up front that now features Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Nick Paul, Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Blueger.
asserted
that → go → Roslovic
The 23-year-old Knies was previously viewed as an important piece of Toronto’s future.
asserted
Knies → view → future
The six-foot-three, 223-pound winger selected 57th overall in 2021 had a career-high 29 goals along with 29 assists for 58 points across 78 games in 2024-25 playing on a line with Matthews and Mitch Marner.
asserted
winger → select → Matthews
Despite being on a team-friendly contract that counts $7.75 million against the salary cap through 2031, his name has been spinning in the rumour mill since the March trade deadline.
asserted
name → count → deadline
Chayka was asked about Knies — and why talk of his departure refuses to go away — when the team gathered for the start of training camp earlier this month.
asserted
team → ask → camp
The new GM pointed to discussions involving previous management as a potential reason.
asserted
GM → point → reason
“We’ve been consistent with Matthew that he’s an important part of our team,” Chayka said Sept 16.
asserted
Chayka → ’ → team
“As we think about winning games when it matters, the ability to have players that are good on the walls, good net-front, can play a physical game, finish checks, but also have the talent and skill level to make plays and score goals.
asserted
that → think → goals
Merzlikins, a third-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2014, will not be ready to suit up for the Maple Leafs right away as he is currently on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
asserted
he → suit → injury
The 32-year-old from Riga, Latvia, had a 14-11-3 record with a 3.40 goals-against average and .993 save percentage in 30 appearances last season as a backup to Blue Jackets starter Jet Greaves.
asserted
old → have → Greaves
The 31-year-old Wood, who was recently put on waivers, has 99 goals and 97 assists in 567 career games with New Jersey, Colorado and Columbus.
asserted
who → put → Jersey
Lorentz, a Stanley Cup winner with the Florida Panthers in 2024, had 15 goals and 22 assists over two seasons in Toronto.
asserted
Lorentz → have → Toronto
Andrae ended a very short tenure in Toronto.
asserted
Andrae → end → Toronto
The 24-year-old Swedish defenceman was acquired in a June trade with Philadelphia.
asserted
defenceman → acquire → Philadelphia
Andrae had three goals and 17 assists over 107 games with the Flyers, who selected him in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft.
asserted
who → have → draft
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
The Aporia
