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Maple Leafs Acquire Marchenko From Columbus, Sign Him to Six-Year Deal
Marchenko joins Toronto on a six-year, $75 million extension as the Maple Leafs add scoring help and send Matthew Knies to Columbus.
- On Monday, September 28, 2026, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired winger Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets and signed him to a six-year, $75 million contract extension carrying a $12.5 million annual cap hit.
- Columbus general manager Don Waddell initiated the trade after Marchenko signaled he would not re-sign with the Blue Jackets, while the team pursued salary cap relief following forward Adam Fantilli's recent six-year contract.
- Toronto also acquired forward Miles Wood and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, with Columbus retaining 18 percent of Merzlikins' $5.4 million salary cap hit, while sending forward Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a second-round pick to Columbus.
- Adding Marchenko provides the Maple Leafs with significant offensive firepower after missing the playoffs last year, while the Blue Jackets gain younger assets including 23-year-old Knies to bolster their rebuild.
- With Merzlikins recovering from August shoulder surgery, Toronto can place the goaltender on long-term injured reserve to manage the salary cap impact before Tuesday's regular season opener.
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Maple Leafs confirm 6-year extension for Kirill Marchenko after trade
By Field Level Media Sep 29 (Field Level Media) - One day after acquiring Kirill Marchenko in a blockbuster trade on the eve of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed Tuesday that the forward signed a six-year contract extension. The t...
Maple Leafs General Manager gave up his best young player to get Kirill Marchenko.
·Montreal, Canada
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Let's first analyze Kirill Marshenko's exchange for Matthew Knies from the perspective of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
·Montreal, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources78
Leaning Left17Leaning Right5Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 37%
C 52%
11%
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