Trade chatter surrounding Kirill Marchenko refuses to die a simple death, with the Montreal Canadiens consistently emerging as a leading suitor whenever his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets comes up.
Just as things were cooling down, a new report fueled speculation about a blockbuster deal amid rumors that negotiations were much further along than the available evidence supported.
This buzz has now run into a major reality check, as a respected Montreal insider stepped in to separate verified information from the flood of social media speculation.
Eric Engels Shoots Down Latest Kirill Marchenko to Canadiens Trade Rumor
The latest speculation centered on reports that the Canadiens had received “exclusive permission” to negotiate a long-term extension with Marchenko before completing a trade with the Blue Jackets.
Speaking on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, Sportsnet insider Eric Engels dismissed those claims outright and explained why the story has drifted well beyond the facts.
First, Engels acknowledged that Marchenko’s contract status naturally leaves the door open for trade speculation because the winger remains eligible to sign an eight-year extension.
“You have a player who is still eligible to get an eight-year extension up until September 16, and then, if he doesn’t want to sign it with Columbus but would potentially sign one with somebody else, it could put a kind of clock on the situation if he’s going to be traded.”
This deadline creates urgency, but according to Engels, it does not mean negotiations are already happening behind the scenes.
He also pushed back against the idea that Columbus has been actively entertaining offers. Citing previous reporting, Engels said, “Don Waddell is standing firm on his stance with anybody calling him. And I don’t think, as Aaron Portzline reported, I have no reason to doubt that. I don’t think anybody has been calling since early July on this situation. They’ve been told, ‘We’ll call you. Don’t call us.'”
These comments suggest the Blue Jackets remain in control of the process rather than inviting a bidding war.
Engels was equally direct when addressing the rumor that Montreal had gained special negotiating rights. “The Canadiens have not been granted any exclusive permission to negotiate with Kirill Marchenko on a new contract,” he said, while adding that agent Dan Milstein had already “poured ice-cold water on that.”
He even noted that Milstein appeared to be “having fun on Twitter” as the rumors continued to circulate.
While Engels dismantled the most sensational claims, he also acknowledged that Marchenko’s long-term future remains uncertain.
READ MORE: ‘They Lost a Big Opportunity’: Former Canadiens Enforcer Worried About Montreal’s Dead Trade Market
“It seems very obvious that the player doesn’t want to be in Columbus,” he said, adding that general manager Don Waddell now has to determine how to recover the best possible value if a trade ultimately becomes necessary instead of keeping a player who no longer wants to stay.
For now, the biggest takeaway is not that Marchenko is untouchable or guaranteed to stay in Columbus. Instead, Engels believes too many people are rushing to build stories without solid information, calling it “hilarious watching all these people pile on top of the story to get a piece of it and seeing what they’re randomly adding to it.”
Until the Blue Jackets decide otherwise, the noise surrounding Marchenko may be louder than the reality.
