What the Canadiens Could Offer to Land Kirill Marchenko

If that’s indeed the case, Columbus could seriously consider moving him rather than risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires. Teams around the league are always willing to pay a premium for proven top-six talent, especially when that player is entering the prime years of his career.

While Marchenko isn’t the second-line centre many Canadiens fans have been hoping for, he would still represent a massive upgrade to Montreal’s top six. At 6-foot-3, he brings the size, scoring touch and skill that every contender covets. He has shown he can consistently produce offense while playing against top competition, and his combination of strength and finishing ability would give the Canadiens another legitimate scoring threat alongside Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky.

What Would the Price Be?

If Kent Hughes wants to acquire Marchenko, he should expect the asking price to be significant. Marchenko is just 25 years old and has established himself as one of the NHL’s better young wingers. After recording 74 points in 2024-25, he followed it up with another impressive campaign of 67 points, proving that his breakout wasn’t a one-year fluke. Players with that kind of production, especially at his age, rarely become available.

Recent trades around the league also provide a good indication of what it might cost. Mason McTavish fetched two first-round picks in a blockbuster deal sending him to the St. Louis Blues despite not matching Marchenko’s recent offensive production. If that’s the market for McTavish, it’s reasonable to expect Columbus would demand even more for Marchenko.

The Blue Jackets would likely ask for a package built around multiple premium assets. That could include first-round picks, one or two high-end prospects, or even a young NHL player already contributing at the highest level. Montreal has one of the deepest prospect pools in hockey, but a trade of this magnitude would almost certainly force Hughes to part with players he would prefer to keep.

That’s the difficult balance every team eventually faces. At some point, prospects and draft picks have to be converted into established NHL talent. The question is whether Marchenko is the right player to justify paying that premium.

Why It Makes Sense for Montreal

Any trade discussion starts with one important condition, Marchenko would need to be willing to sign a long-term extension with the Canadiens. Giving up a massive package for a player with only one year remaining on his contract simply wouldn’t make sense otherwise. If an extension is part of the deal, however, the fit becomes much more intriguing.

Marchenko fits perfectly within Montreal’s competitive window. Suzuki is entering his prime, Caufield is already an elite scorer, Slafkovsky continues to improve every season, Demidov is expected to become a franchise cornerstone, while Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson headline an exciting blue line. Adding another established top-six forward of Marchenko’s caliber would strengthen that core without sacrificing the team’s long-term timeline.

His size would also add another dimension to Montreal’s attack. The Canadiens have become faster and more skilled over the past few seasons, but adding another 6-foot-3 winger capable of scoring 30 goals would make them even more difficult to defend. 

There’s also the Russian connection. Playing alongside Demidov could make the transition even smoother and potentially help convince Marchenko that Montreal is the right place to spend the prime years of his career. The Canadiens have also drafted a couple of Russian forwards in the last two years (Gleb Pugachyov and Alexander Zharovsky)

None of this guarantees a trade happens. Columbus could still convince Marchenko to stay, or another team could outbid the Canadiens if he officially hits the market. But if the Blue Jackets decide to move him, it’s easy to understand why Hughes would pick up the phone. Elite young top-six forwards don’t become available very often, and while the acquisition cost would be enormous, Marchenko is exactly the type of player who could help push the Canadiens one step closer to becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.