Around the league, Monday at 5 pm was the deadline for all 32 teams to submit their season-opening rosters. The Carolina Hurricanes submitted theirs with little fanfare, but it didn't stop others from making some noise. After months of speculating this offseason, the Columbus Blue Jackets finally made a move involving one of their stars, who has a knack for torching the Canes.
The trade saw Columbus send Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins, and Miles Wood to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and Seattle's 2027 second-round pick. The Blue Jackets also retained 18 percent of Merzlikins' cap hit, though he's not expected to play anytime soon after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Marchenko made it known this summer that he was unlikely to sign an extension with Columbus. The 26-year-old was entering the final year of his deal worth $3.85 million. He has recorded at least 20 goals in each of his four NHL seasons, scoring 31 in 2024-25. Clearly, Marchenko was willing to sign in Toronto because the trade comes with a six-year, $75 million contract.
The Blue Jackets made out pretty well, too. Getting Matthew Knies in return is nothing to be ashamed of. Knies is three years younger and is locked in for almost $5 million less than Marchenko's new contract. Knies signed a six-year extension last June with the Maple Leafs, but the lack of trade protection made him easier to move. He was nearly dealt to Montreal at last season's deadline.
The rest of the deal helps to make the money work. Merzlikins, as we've said, is recovering from surgery. Wood played 54 games for Columbus last season and was waived on Saturday. Andrae was traded from Philadelphia to Toronto in June with Samuel Ersson. Lorentz is on his fourth team in five years since being traded by the Canes to San Jose in 2022 and was also waived last week.
How does this move affect the Hurricanes?
Along with potentially getting to see Lorentz four times a year now, the biggest benefit of this move is that Marchenko is no longer in the Metropolitan Division. Frankly, Canes fans should be throwing a parade now that we'll only have to deal with him three times a year. He has always been a nuisance when the Blue Jackets face the Hurricanes, so one less encounter will be nice.
Marchenko has ten goals and 14 points in 14 meetings with the Canes. His ten goals against Carolina are three more than he has against any other team. His 14 points are tied for his most against an opponent, with Tampa Bay, whom he'll now be in a division with. Marchenko potted the first of his four career hat tricks against the Canes on January 7, 2023. He also scored in the shootout that night.
Meanwhile, Knies' numbers against the Canes are much nicer to look at from a Carolina perspective. He has just one goal and five points in nine games and is a -3. Of course, things can change in a new system, so maybe Knies was waiting to see the Canes more often before finally going off. Honestly, I would prefer if he kept things the way they are now.
This move is massive for the entire Eastern Conference. Two very skilled wingers are now in different divisions and learning new systems just days before taking the ice. It helps the Blue Jackets get out of a tough situation with a good return, while the Maple Leafs add another weapon to the top of their lineup. As for the Canes, their goal remains the same, regardless of who is on the other side.
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