- The Maple Leafs gave Kirill Marchenko a long-term extension right after trading for him
- Matthew Knies heads to Columbus as part of a six-player deal
- Read below for the full trade, the contract numbers and what the Blue Jackets said
The Maple Leafs didn’t waste any time with Kirill Marchenko.
Toronto officially acquired the 26-year-old winger from the Blue Jackets on Monday, then signed him to a six-year, $75 million extension that same afternoon. His agent, Dan Milstein, announced the deal, which carries a $12.5 million cap hit and starts next season.
Milstein posted the terms as the trade was coming together:
Coming to the Leafs are Marchenko, forward Miles Wood and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. Going the other way are Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.
It all got done a few hours before Monday’s 5 p.m. ET roster deadline. Here’s the Leafs making it official:
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had the talks first earlier in the day, and he laid out the full package before either team announced it. He also noted Columbus kept some of Merzlikins’ salary. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun confirmed the deal was going through about 13 minutes before that, with six players involved.
Knies had been named as the big piece going back to Columbus around midday, while Toronto was still working on an extension with Milstein.
Marchenko earned the raise. He put up 67 points (27 goals, 40 assists) in 76 games last season and has led the Blue Jackets in goals three years running. His career totals sit at 102 goals and 208 points in 292 games.
He still has one year left at $3.85 million, so Toronto gets a cheap season out of him before the new number kicks in. Without the extension, he could have been a restricted free agent next summer.
What he does in year one with the Leafs is the big question, and it’s the one we threw out when the extension dropped:
Columbus is giving up its top goal scorer, but Knies is no small return. The 23-year-old had a career-high 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists) last season and is signed through 2030-31 at $7.75 million a year.
Don Waddell talked about what he likes in Knies in the team’s announcement.
“Matthew is a big, strong power forward who combines tough, hard-nosed physical play with outstanding offensive skills,” Waddell said. “He is a young player with great character and work ethic and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Blue Jackets family.”
Merzlikins, 32, is in the last year of his deal with a $5.4 million cap hit and is still coming back from shoulder surgery. Wood had 14 points in 54 games last season.
Opening night for the Leafs is Tuesday at home against the Canadiens. Knies and the Blue Jackets get going Thursday against the Sabres.
