Top Columbus attacker Kirill Marchenko to the Edmonton Oilers, maybe as early as the 2027 NHL trade deadline?

It’s all just talk for now, but dare to dream.

Marchenko, 26, is a beast of an attacking forward for the Blue Jackets, with 21, 23, 31 and 27 goals in consecutive seasons. In those same four seasons he’s upped his point total from 25 to 42 to 74, with 67 points last year. He’s on the final year of a three-year deal that pays him $3.85 million this year. He’ll be a restricted free agent this coming summer.

There’s been rumours that Marchenko is open to a move out of Columbus. In late June at the NHL draft, NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported that at that moment Marchenko would not sign a new long-term deal with CBJ. “Talk about a buzzkill,” Weekes noted.

The Blue Jackets might also be looking at losing top d-man Zack Werenski, reported Brian Hedger of the Columbus Post-Dispatch at that time. “Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell began fielding calls on each player’s availability before the start of the first round, thanks largely to reports that Werenski and Marchenko aren’t interested in signing contract extensions when eligible… The message was sent loud and clear. Marchenko doesn’t see himself staying in Columbus beyond July 1, 2028, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.”

In late July, a sports news and gambling publication RG reported that Marchenko might be on his way to play in Montreal.

Marchenko remains with Columbus but last week Allan “Lowetide” Mitchell of the Athletic speculated that of all the top forwards Edmonton might acquire, Marchenko makes the most sense.

Said Mitchell:  “For the Oilers, bringing in high-priced veterans is no longer a viable option. The team needs an impact player, and needs that player to deliver guaranteed production for the next five seasons (or more)… The Oilers should be aggressive despite the contract risk. The Russian is an established winger who could increase his value with a strong season in Edmonton… Marchenko should be the target. He’s signed for next season at $3.85 million, is a speedster (93rd percentile max speed, according to NHL Edge) and a season in Edmonton should increase his value (and next contract). If he flourishes with the Oilers, a long-term deal could result and benefit both player and team. Edmonton might be able to find a satisfactory package for the Blue Jackets.”

Then came Puckpedia’s cap guru Hart Levine, speaking last week on Oilers Now with Ayden Ganam, and noting that with its extra cap space from the Darnell Nurse trade, Edmonton could be in a position to have cap space at the deadline to make a move.

Speaking before the reports of the Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen injuries, Levine said: “They’re $4.7 (million under the cap) now, if they started the season, let’s say with $2 or $2.5 million (in cap space), again, assuming they don’t run into major injuries, that still can fit $8 or $9 million at the deadline, which should be plenty to really go out for someone.”

Levine continued:  “It certainly looks like they would have room to add a piece like next season, and that’s why I think you see someone like, you know, Kirill Marchenko, if it became available. That’s someone that would be of interest because he’s on a pretty low deal right now, and then when you use an extension, they would have potentially the room to pay him.”

My take

1. When I first read Mitchell and heard Levine’s talk of Marchenko to the Oilers, my first reaction was negative, as in: What the hell are they smoking?

But having thought about the win-now pressure on the Oilers, about the opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup in these two years where Connor McDavid is so grossly underpaid by NHL superstar standards (largely as a favour from McDavid to the team to help them compete for the Cup), I had a second more positive thought: Hey Lowetide! Can you please pass me that bong?

2. Marchenko would look awfully good on the Oil’s first line. He’s in the prime of his career. Yes, he might not want to sign long term here, but even on a short term trade the Oilers would have him this year and likley next year in his final RFA season.

3. The hitch? The Oilers are short on draft picks and prospects to move out for Marchenko. Other teams could likely offer CBJ more. But few teams have more motivation to make such a big move as the Oilers do. And if Marchenko values playing on a winning team with superstar centres for the next few years, maybe the fit won’t just be excellent short term, but solid long term.

4. In the end, to win in the NHL you need great players. The Oilers have three of the best in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. They all have plenty of good years left in them. But Edmonton’s supporting cast of Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mattias Ekholm, Jason Dickinson, Frederik Andersen and Connor Murphy is going to need replenishing.

Edmonton’s going to have to conjure up a star player in the next year or two, just like they did in the past bringing in Hyman, Ekholm and Evander Kane in Ken Holland’s time.

With all due respect and with apologies to Blue Jacket fans, I agree with Lowetide that Marchenko is one helluva target.

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