NHL insider confirms Atlantic rivals lead Kirill Marchenko trade pursuit

Bad news for the Buffalo Sabres: It sounds like several of their Atlantic Division rivals are the most aggressive teams in the trade talks surrounding Columbus Blue Jackets star Kirill Marchenko.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic provided an update on the Marchenko situation Monday during an appearance on Sabres Live with Brian Duff and Marty Biron.

"I think if a team stepped up in a meaningful way — i.e., if Columbus got talent back that helps their NHL lineup now as part of a package — I think that's the kind of deal that could happen today, next week, in March, next July. I mean, that's the kind of deal that Columbus needs to get back for Marchenko. They don't want futures only," LeBrun said.

"... I don't know if there's a team that's called Columbus more than the Montreal Canadiens this summer about Marchenko. The Toronto Maple Leafs have called a number of times under new management. Yes, the Boston Bruins."

UPDATE: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet added further information later Monday:

Despite the intense speculation, LeBrun noted Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell is telling interested clubs: "I don't have to trade him right now. Let's see how the year goes."

Marchenko is entering the final season of his current contract. He's scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer, and he can become an unrestricted free agent as early as 2028. As it stands, it doesn't sound like he's interested in a long-term extension with Columbus.

The 26-year-old Russian winger has recorded 141 points (58 goals and 83 assists) in 155 games for the Jackets over the past two seasons.

His trade situation is similar to that of Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who's been heavily linked to the Sabres since before the 2026 NHL Draft. In both cases, their current teams have insisted on win-now talent, not prospects and draft picks, as the cornerstone of any deal.

So far, that type of offer hasn't materialized for Columbus nor Winnipeg, which is why Marchenko and Hellebuyck haven't been moved with the new season set to begin Tuesday night.

The difference is the Blue Jackets winger is fully expected to play while awaiting a potential solution, while the Jets goaltender didn't report to training camp after going public with his trade request.

Could the Sabres make a run at a Kirill Marchenko trade?

For now, Buffalo is going to enter the new campaign by making a significant bet on internal improvement to offset the loss of Alex Tuch, who was sent to the Washington Capitals over the summer as part of a sign-and-trade deal.

Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius are among the Sabres young forwards who will be asked to handle more responsibility without a key two-way contributor like Tuch available.

What happens if those players don't take the leap Buffalo is hoping for, though? Is it possible general manager Jarmo Kekalainen could join the Marchenko sweepstakes?

Kekalainen was leading the Columbus front office when the organization selected the 6-foot-3 forward in the second round of the 2018 draft. He also signed the winger to his first NHL contract in 2022.

So, at minimum, there's a strong grasp from the longtime executive about whether Marchenko would be a good fit within the Sabres' current roster complexion.

One area he could surely help Buffalo is on the power play, the team's most consistent area of concern over the past two years. The Blue Jackets winger recorded 23 points (six goals and 17 assists) while on the ice with the man advantage last season.

Marchenko would also give the Sabres a more dynamic offensive talent to play alongside center Tage Thompson on the first line. Right now, the club is planning to use a couple two-way players, Josh Doan and Peyton Krebs, on Thompson's wings.

That's why it feels like an ideal fit on paper, especially if Buffalo gets off to a sluggish start in 2026-27.

Kekalainen and head coach Lindy Ruff seemingly want to give their next wave of possible cornerstone players a chance to prove themselves before going big-game hunting on the trade market, though. It's an understandable approach given the Blue and Gold's depth.

Trading for Marchenko would still represent a boost, however, particularly since it sounds like the Sabres would be keeping him away from an Atlantic Division counterpart at the same time.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow