Maple Leafs land Kirill Marchenko from Blue Jackets in Knies trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, sending Matthew Knies the other way in a six-player trade a day before Toronto opens its season.

Both clubs announced the deal. Along with Marchenko, the Leafs receive winger Miles Wood and goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Columbus gets Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenceman Emil Andrae and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, which will be the later of Winnipeg's and Columbus's picks in that round. The Blue Jackets are keeping 18 per cent of Merzlikins' salary.

Toronto settled Marchenko's future right away. The 26-year-old signed a six-year, $75 million contract with a $12.5 million average annual value that starts next season, his agent said. He has one year left on the three-year, $11.55 million deal he signed with Columbus in July 2024, worth $3.85 million a season, and could have been a restricted free agent next summer.

Marchenko has been Columbus's top goal scorer three seasons running. He had 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games in 2025-26 and has 102 goals and 208 points in 292 career games, all with the Blue Jackets, who drafted him 49th overall in 2018. ESPN reports he is expected to start on Toronto's top line with Auston Matthews.

The trade closes out a summer of uncertainty. In June, ESPN's Kevin Weekes reported that Marchenko was looking for a fresh start, citing agent Dan Milstein, and at Blue Jackets camp this month the winger would not commit to a future in Columbus.

Knies is the main return for the Blue Jackets. The 23-year-old winger from Phoenix set career highs with 43 assists and 66 points, along with 23 goals, in 79 games last season, and has 160 points in 240 games since Toronto took him 57th overall in 2021. He is signed through 2030-31 at $7.75 million a year, and his name had come up in trade speculation for at least two seasons.

Lorentz, 30, won the Stanley Cup with Florida in 2024 and had 18 points in 71 games for Toronto last season. Andrae, 24, joined the Leafs from Philadelphia in June as part of the Joseph Woll trade. ESPN reports both are signed through 2028, Lorentz at $1.35 million a year.

Wood, 31, is a depth forward starting his 12th NHL season. He had 14 points in 54 games for Columbus last season and carries a $2.5 million cap hit. Merzlikins, 32, spent seven seasons with the Blue Jackets and was their starter for most of them until rookie Jet Greaves took over last season. His contract, with a $5.4 million cap hit, expires after this season. According to ESPN, he has been out indefinitely since failing his physical when camp opened, following shoulder surgery in August.

The Maple Leafs open their season Tuesday at home against the Montreal Canadiens. The Blue Jackets start Thursday at home against the Buffalo Sabres.