Maple Leafs & Blue Jackets Swing Blockbuster Trade Before NHL Opening Night

Columbus Blue Jackets acquired Kirill Marchenko from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade before the NHL roster submission deadline on Monday, September 28. In return, the Blue Jackets received forwards Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a second-round pick, while paying 18 percent of goalie Elvis Merzlikins' contract.

Columbus received a solid return for Marchenko, considering he was not keen on re-signing with the team. The 26-year-old Marchenko scored 31 goals two seasons ago and 27 goals last season. The Blue Jackets acquired three young forwards in return, with one of them, Matthew Knies, being three years younger than Marchenko and a 6-foot-3 power forward who scored 52 goals over the past two seasons.

Toronto Maple Leafs received a good return for the 26-year-old Marchenko, who was their leading goal scorer. The veteran forward could potentially score even more goals in the Maple Leafs' top six. The trade also helped the Maple Leafs get under the salary cap after re-signing Adam Fantilli. The Maple Leafs signed Miles Wood, who has plenty of speed, but he came off a disappointing 14-point season.