Significant Update On Marchenko's Future in Columbus

The Kirill Marchenko drama in Columbus has taken a significant turn on Saturday. We learned on Friday that his agent made it clear that the 27-goal scorer is unlikely to be signing an extension beyond the one year remaining on his contract. It seemed obvious to all observers that a trade by the Blue Jackets was forthcoming. 

Not so fast. 

Insider Pierre LeBrun wrote today in The Athletic that GM Don Waddell has "no intention" of trading his top-line winger. 

Pierre LeBrun on #CBJ/Marchenko:

-Hasn’t requested a trade, and is willing to remain with the team for another season or two, but doesn’t want to be around long-term.
-In the last 24 hours, Waddell has told teams he has no intention of trading him this summer.

— The CBJ Center (@CBJcenter) June 27, 2026

"Despite the message from Marchenko’s agent Friday, my understanding is that Waddell has been telling teams in the last 24 hours that he has no intention of trading the forward this summer."

The 25-year-old has not asked for a trade, and is fine to play out his contract, but isn't interested in sticking around for the long-term. He is entering the final year of a $3.85M AAV deal. The 6'3" Russian forward recorded 27 goals and 67 points this season, and has averaged 29 goals and 70 points over each of the last two years.

He was a second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft.

The Blue Jackets already have another, more serious, discontented player on their hands, as they are dealing with the process of likely having to trade Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. The team is getting tired of having star players bail on the franchise, and that is certainly feeding into the refusal of Waddell to trade Marchenko this summer. Who knows, the GM might take the same stand on Werenski.