Maple Leafs Sign Kirill Marchenko for $75M Extension

Summary:

• The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets, signing him to a six-year, $75 million extension.
• Matthew Knies heads to the Blue Jackets along with Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz and a 2027 second-round pick.
• Auston Matthews and rookie Gavin McKenna headline a revamped Maple Leafs roster.

John Chayka joked on Monday, September 28, that the trade rumours surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs might never go away. Only a few hours later, the NHL general manager proved his point.

$12.5 Million a Year for Six Years 

Toronto acquired 26-year-old winger Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster deal that sent 23-year-old forward Matthew Knies to Columbus.

The Leafs immediately signed Marchenko to a six-year, $75 million extension, giving him an annual average value of $12.5 million. His cap hit for the 2026-27 season is $3.85 million.

The trade also saw Toronto receive goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and forward Miles Wood. Columbus will retain 18% of Merzlikins’ $5.4 million salary, with the goaltender set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The Blue Jackets also acquired defenceman Emil Andrae, winger Steven Lorentz and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Columbus GM: “Matthew Is a Big, Strong Power Forward”

Knies had been the subject of trade speculation dating back to last season and was still skating alongside Auston Matthews on Toronto’s top line at Monday’s practice before the deal.

Matthew is a big, strong power forward who combines tough, hard-nosed physical play with outstanding offensive skills

Columbus general manager Don Waddell said.

The move is the latest and most significant part of a dramatic roster overhaul under Chayka, who was hired in May after Toronto finished 28th overall and missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

If Marchenko plays in Tuesday’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, 10 of Toronto’s 20 players in the lineup will be new additions.

That leaves the Leafs with plenty to figure out early in the season, something Chayka acknowledged before making the trade, adding that the team will need to build chemistry and get comfortable with the new system.

The uncertainty is you’ve got a lot of new faces coming together

Auston Matthews will be at the centre of that process.

The Toronto captain is returning after knee surgery and a season in which he scored 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games, both below his usual production. Chayka said Matthews looks leaner and that internal skating data suggests he is skating better than at any point in the past five years.

Matthews said he feels good heading into the season and has been encouraged by the team’s new energy.

McKenna, Ready for His Debut Against Montreal

Toronto will also begin the season with another major storyline in Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick who is set to make his NHL debut against Montreal.

The 18-year-old impressed during training camp and played on Toronto’s second line and second power-play unit. The organization is trying to keep expectations under control while giving McKenna room to develop.

It’s going to be ups and downs. We just hope we can support him through that.

The Leafs will also have to manage their goaltending, with 38-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky expected to make his first start for Toronto while Anthony Stolarz remains part of the rotation.

Meanwhile, Dakota Joshua is expected to miss time with a lingering core injury.

After a season that ended without a playoff berth, Toronto enters the new campaign with a dramatically different roster and plenty of questions to answer. The first opportunity comes Tuesday against Montreal.