After exceeding expectations with a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, the Montreal Canadiens aren’t content with standing still.
While general manager Kent Hughes has stayed away from blockbuster free-agent signings, the club continues to explore ways to add another top-six scorer, and one insider says Montreal made a serious push for one of the league’s emerging Russian stars.
Insider Details Montreal Canadiens’ Russian Pursuit
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko has emerged as a trade candidate after ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported that his camp has indicated he is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with Columbus when eligible.
That development immediately caught Montreal’s attention.
Canadiens insider Marco D’Amico revealed the organization aggressively pursued Marchenko once the opportunity surfaced.
“This is why the Canadiens went ham when there was the possibility of maybe being able to extract Kirill Marchenko out of Columbus. They were going big-game swinging. Now, availability is one part of the equation. But the change in trade value across the league is the other,” D’Amico said.
He explained that blockbuster trades have become much harder to complete this offseason because teams are placing far less value on draft picks and prospects. Instead of rebuilding for the future, many teams are prioritizing NHL-ready talent over future assets, making it much harder to acquire top trade targets with draft picks and prospects alone.
At 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, Marchenko fits exactly what Montreal has been searching for. The 25-year-old has led the Blue Jackets in goals for three straight seasons and is coming off another productive year with 27 goals and 67 points.
His appeal goes beyond his scoring ability.
Pairing Marchenko with fellow Russian Ivan Demidov could ease the young forward’s growing pains in the NHL while creating a dangerous second line. His size and finishing touch would also strengthen Montreal’s power play, and at 25 years old, he fits the same competitive window as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
Landing him, however, won’t be easy.
With the Utah Mammoth, Seattle Kraken, and Philadelphia Flyers also showing interest, Montreal will likely have to offer more than draft picks. As D’Amico noted, teams around the league are prioritizing NHL-ready talent over future assets.
A potential package could include David Reinbacher, Michael Hage, and additional assets heading to Columbus.
It would be a steep price, but the Canadiens have enough depth on the blue line to consider moving a top defensive prospect in exchange for a proven top-six scorer.
Marchenko is entering the final year of his $11.55 million contract and will become a restricted free agent next summer, making a long-term extension a key part of any trade discussions if Montreal decides to make its move.
