The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to rebound in 2026-27. After making the playoffs for nine straight seasons, the Leafs finished in last place in the Atlantic Division in 2025-26. The Maple Leafs had an active offseason, signing Sergei Bobrovsky and Jack Roslovic, while also drafting Gavin McKenna first overall.
As the Leafs prepare to open the regular season on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, the team looks to be on the verge of making one more major offseason move, according to hockey insider Elliotte Friedman.
“There is word this afternoon the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs are deep in discussions on a trade involving Kirill Marchenko,” Friedman posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Marchenko is heading into the final year of a three-year deal he signed ahead of the 2024-25 season and has an AAV of $3.85 million. He is eligible for a contract extension, but there are questions as to whether or not Marchenko will sign a new deal with the team. With the fact that the forward becoming a restricted free agent at the end of the year, the Blue Jackets may be looking to move him. Marchenko could sign an extension if he is traded, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.
Article Continues Below“At this stage, there is no extension in place for Kirill Marchenko with the [Leafs], but those talks are expected to pick up this afternoon, per sources,” Johnston posted on X.
Marchenko was the 49th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Blue Jackets and came over from Russia ahead of the 2022-23 season. He made his NHL debut that year, and since then has played 292 games with the franchise, scoring 102 goals and adding 106 assists. If he is moved, it could be Matthew Knies heading to Columbus, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN.
“The proposed Leafs-Blue Jackets trade involves multiple pieces, including Knies and Marchenko, and it's not a done deal yet. Both teams still working through things. Plus Leafs negotiating with Marchenko's agent Dan Milstein,” LeBrun reported.
The Maple Leafs open the year on Tuesday night, with the Blue Jackets taking to the ice for the first time on Thursday, hosting the Buffalo Sabres.