Toronto And Columbus Both Should Be Happy With Blockbuster Marchenko-Knies Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets both should be happy with their returns in today's blockbuster Marchenko-Knies trade. The Maple Leafs get the elite goal scoring potential of winger Kirill Marchenko. Marchenko can score, but the new six-year, $75 million ($12.5 million AAV) contract he signed with Toronto is steep for a forward that didn't eclipse the 30-goal plateau last season (he had 27 goals in 25-26 and 31 goals in 24-25). Toronto is betting on the further ceiling of Marchenko and it's a big bet!

Columbus gets the younger and bigger winger in Matthew Knies (who can also score!), who is coming off of a 23-goal campaign in 25-26 (he had 29 goals in 24-25). While Marchenko is now signed with Toronto through the 2030-31 season at $12.5 million AAV, Columbus acquires Knies on a modest $7.75 million AAV contract through the 2030-31 season. The rest of the deal includes Toronto receiving goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and forward Miles Wood, while Columbus receives defenceman Emil Andrae, forward Steven Lorentz and a 2027 2nd round draft pick. There's more on the trade here.