Maple Leafs Beat Out These 5 Teams In Marchenko Sweepstakes

The dust has settled on the blockbuster trade. Kirill Marchenko is a Toronto Maple Leaf, and Matthew Knies' long, uncertain offseason has finally culminated in his becoming a Columbus Blue Jacket. According to insider Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs had to beat out five teams to land the Russian star sniper. 

The first question that many have asked, is why was Knies in so many trade rumors? Of course, the answer is fairly obvious: He was the Leafs' best (and only?) real trade asset to land a difference-maker. He had no trade protection and is on a very reasonable contract with a $7.75M AAV. 

Friedman said that the appeal of a young, exciting player like Knies with a contract like that made the Leafs the team to beat. But there were others making a pitch to Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell, starting off with the most-mentioned team on the Marchenko bandwagon, the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal was aggressive all summer, trying to make it work. But no one they offered excited Columbus as much as Knies. They were creative at the end, trying to involve third teams to either eat Blue Jackets salary or include more palatable players. As for the extension, I do think the Canadiens would have done the six years, $12.5 million AAV Toronto did — even if it altered their tight salary structure. Who else was in there? Boston, the Islanders, Seattle, Tampa Bay. No doubt others. But Knies was impossible to beat.

The Bruins, Islanders and Kraken have been looking for a top-six forward. 

Under any circumstances, however, trading Knies to a division rival like the Canadiens, Bruins or Lightning would have been a tough pill to swallow for Leafs fans and team management. 

For now, it's onward and upward for both of these young talented players. The Leafs are hoping Marchenko will play in their season-opener Tuesday night, but as of late morning, were still working furiously to work out the immigration situation.