- Kirill Marchenko met the media Friday for the first time since a June report said he has no interest in re-signing in Columbus
- The winger deflected every question about his future and joked that he forgot his English over the summer
- Read below for the full scrum, the contract math, and where the Blue Jackets stand on trading him
Kirill Marchenko is not saying a word about his future in Columbus.
The Blue Jackets winger met with reporters Friday at Nationwide Arena for the first time since a June report put his long-term future with the team in doubt. Asked about the contract situation hanging over camp, he handed it off to his general manager and his agent.
“I can talk only about hockey. It’s not my side, business side. It’s on [Don Waddell] and Dan [Milstein], and they figure out everything. My goal is to be ready, on the ice.”
He opened the scrum by setting up five minutes of short answers. Watch Marchenko lay the groundwork:
“I forget all English … in Russia,” Marchenko said, smiling. “I know only words about hockey right now. Let’s go.”
All of this traces to Kevin Weekes. On June 26, during ESPN’s draft broadcast, Weekes said Marchenko’s camp had told him the 26-year-old was unlikely to re-sign with the Blue Jackets:
Marchenko claims it never reached him. “Really? I didn’t see that.”
Someone tried a simpler version and asked where he wants to play hockey. “Whoa,” he said. “On the ice … on the ice, where I can play. On the ice. Puck, not ball. Puck hockey. Ice hockey, and … we’ll see.”
Then came the direct one, on whether he wants to keep playing in Columbus. Here’s his answer:
“It’s too many good questions right now,” Marchenko said. “I want to play hockey. That’s what I can say right now, and I don’t want to give you guys a lot of things. I just love my teammates, I love to enjoy the practices and enjoy the hockey.”
One year is left on his deal at $3.85 million against the cap. He hits restricted free agency with arbitration rights on July 1, 2027. A career rate of 29 goals per 82 games says the next contract costs a lot more than this one.
Waddell has not budged since the summer. He said in late August that he expected Marchenko at camp, and any trade would have to bring NHL players back rather than a pile of picks. Montreal has been the team most often connected to him.
Columbus opens the season Oct. 1 against Buffalo. Marchenko will be in the lineup, still answering hockey questions and nothing else.
