Kirill Marchenko and the Columbus Blue Jackets just got some clarity from the top, and it came in pretty blunt terms.
General manager Don Waddell addressed the swirling trade rumors directly this week, and he didn't leave much room for interpretation.
"He's a player under contract. We control the situation, like with every player under contract," Waddell said.
"Teams have called me, but if we're going to make a deal, it's going to be a deal that helps the Columbus Blue Jackets."
The speculation started at the draft, after reports suggested Marchenko wouldn't extend past the final year of his current deal, with one July report even calling a trade "imminent" before that turned out false.
This wasn't Waddell's only headache this summer either. Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski briefly had trade speculation of his own before both sides called it "misconstrued" and moved on.
Werenski posted 81 points last season, 22 goals and 59 assists in 75 games, on a $9,583,333 cap hit, clearly a piece Columbus never actually wanted to lose.
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Why Marchenko's bargain price makes patience the easy call
Marchenko himself is coming off another strong year, scoring 27 goals and putting up 67 points in 76 games.
His $3,850,000 cap hit looks like an outright steal given that production, exactly the kind of value that makes rushing a trade genuinely unnecessary.
Columbus finished 40-30-12 last season, good for 18th overall, a real step forward that doesn't scream fire sale on a productive winger.
Marchenko is due for a massive raise next summer regardless of where he plays, but that's a problem for next year, not this one.
Waddell fully expects him in camp when it opens September 16, and there's no real reason to doubt that given how the numbers line up.
Rival teams can keep calling all they want. Right now, Columbus has zero incentive to answer with anything but a firm no.
Should the Blue Jackets trade Kirill Marchenko before his contract expires?
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