Kirill Marchenko has departed the Columbus Blue Jackets to join the Toronto Maple Leafs following a six-player swap between the clubs on Monday. The 26-year-old winger was included in a transaction that moved Matthew Knies to Columbus.
Marchenko has additionally signed a six-year, $75 million agreement with Toronto, featuring an average annual value of $12.5 million starting next season, as confirmed by his agent. He was eligible to become a restricted free agent following the 2026-27 campaign.
Kirill Marchenko lands in Toronto
The Maple Leafs obtained Marchenko along with forward Miles Wood and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. Columbus acquired Knies, forward Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a second-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Marchenko is set for his fifth season since Columbus chose him in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft. He posted his strongest recent campaign with 67 points, comprising 27 goals and 40 assists, across 76 games.
The winger paced the Blue Jackets in goals during 2025-26 and ranked second on the roster in points. He has led Columbus in goals for each of the last three seasons.
Marchenko has accumulated 208 points, with 102 goals and 106 assists, in 292 NHL contests. He had one year left on the three-year, $11.55 million deal he signed with Columbus on July 28, 2024.
Matthew Knies moves to Columbus
Knies, 23, is likewise coming off the most productive regular season of his NHL tenure. He gathered 66 points, netting 23 goals and contributing 43 assists, in 79 games for Toronto last season.
The Maple Leafs picked Knies in the second round, 57th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. He has 160 points, including 67 goals and 93 assists, over 240 regular-season games, plus 14 points in 27 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.
Knies inked a six-year, $46.5 million contract with Toronto on July 1, 2025, carrying an average annual value of $7.75 million.
Lorentz, in the meantime, collected 18 points in 71 games for Toronto last season. The 30-year-old, who was part of the 2024 Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, has 80 points in 381 regular-season games with the Carolina Hurricanes, San Jose Sharks, Panthers, and Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs bring in Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins
Merzlikins, 32, wrapped up last season with a 14-11-3 record for Columbus, alongside a 3.40 goals-against average and an .883 save percentage. Over 274 regular-season games, all with the Blue Jackets, he holds a 108-111-38 record with a 3.22 GAA and a .900 save percentage.
Wood tallied 14 points, including eight goals and six assists, in 54 games last season. He has 196 points from 99 goals and 97 assists in 567 regular-season games with the New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Blue Jackets.
Andrae, 24, registered 13 points for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, scoring twice and adding 11 assists. He was dealt to Toronto on June 16 as part of the Joseph Woll trade.
Toronto will open the 2026-27 regular season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Columbus launches its campaign at home against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.