Marchenko traded to Maple Leafs from Blue Jackets, signs six-year deal

One of the major trades of the NHL season occurred on September 28, 2026, when the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets. According to The New York Times, the Maple Leafs were in talks to trade for and extend Marchenko, sending Matthew Knies to the Blue Jackets. This deal was later confirmed by Yahoo Sports, which reported that the Maple Leafs completed a blockbuster trade with a major extension for Marchenko. In contrast, NHL.com focused on the impact of the Marchenko-Knies trade on the NHL EDGE stats.

The trade has been met with praise for the Maple Leafs' general manager, who is proving to be a skilled mover, according to Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk. Yahoo Sports also noted that the Blue Jackets escaped a contract mess with the deal, which sent Marchenko's contract to the Maple Leafs. The current state of the trade remains that the Maple Leafs have acquired Marchenko and extended him to a six-year deal, while the Blue Jackets have received Knies in return.