The Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs are “deep in discussions” regarding a trade that would send star winger Kirill Marchenko to the Maple Leafs, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
The deal involves multiple pieces, but would center around Toronto exchanging its own ascendant star winger, Matthew Knies, for Marchenko, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.
LeBrun noted that the proposed trade “is not a done deal yet” and that both teams are “still working through things.” Friedman has reported that the Maple Leafs will receive goaltender Elvis Merzlikins in the deal, if it is finalized.
This comes only shortly after Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell revealed to the media that he was open to trading his star winger.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth period reported that Marchenko’s agent, Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey, was given permission to initate contract extension talks with teams interested in trading for Marchenko. According to Pagnotta, “talks advanced considerably” with Toronto in recent days, but a deal is “not done at this minute.”
More to come…