Blue Jackets GM Opens Up On Marchenko Trade Talk

The Kirill Marchenko trade rumors have been simmering all summer, after a report emerged at the draft that he wouldn't be extending his contract past the upcoming final year of his deal. Several teams popped up as potential suitors, but the Columbus Blue Jackets said they weren't rushing to trade him. 

Now GM Don Waddell has opened up about all the Marchenko trade talk, and he made it clear and definitive where he stands on the matter. 

He's a player under contract. We control the situation, like with every player under contract. Teams have called me, but if we're going to make a deal, it's going to be a deal that helps the Columbus Blue Jackets.

                                           —Don Waddell, via Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch

There was even a report emanating out of Russia in July that a trade of Marchenko was "imminent." That turned out to be false.   

Waddell also had to deal with an even bigger headache this offseason in the same vein, when word leaked that Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski may be looking to move on. That was eventually labeled as a "misconstrued" situation by both sides, and for now, that's been resolved, and he's staying. 

But all of that obviously created some frayed nerves for Blue Jackets fans, and especially Waddell. So when the Marchenko situation came up, the GM was having none of it, and he fully expects the player in training camp when the doors open on September 16th. 

Marchenko has one year remaining on his current deal, at a dirt-cheap $3.85 million cap hit. He's coming off another excellent season, with 27 goals and 67 points. In four seasons with the Jackets, the Russian marksman has 102 goals in 292 games, with 208 points. He will be in for a massive raise next summer, whether that's in Columbus, or elsewhere.