Friedman reports tagging rules delayed Marchenko trade

NHL rules governing salary committed in future seasons delayed completion of the Kirill Marchenko trade between Toronto and Columbus, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday.

Friedman wrote that Toronto needed room for Marchenko's extension in a future season before the transaction could be completed. He suspects defenceman Emil Andrae was included in the deal because his contract carries a $1.55 million salary in 2027-28. That explanation for Andrae's inclusion is Friedman's inference; neither club stated it as a reason for the trade.

The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets announced the completed trade Monday. Toronto acquired Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins, while Columbus received Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Andrae and a conditional 2027 second-round draft pick. NHL.com reported that Columbus retained 18 per cent of Merzlikins' salary. NHL.com also reported a six-year, $75 million extension for Marchenko beginning in 2027-28, citing his agent Dan Milstein.

Friedman also reported that Columbus valued Knies highly and that Toronto agreed to take on the contracts of Wood and Merzlikins to complete the deal. Those descriptions of the clubs' negotiations are his reporting, rather than details confirmed in the teams' announcements.