Kirill Marchenko's trade market is bigger than just Edmonton, and Montreal already made a move.
Elliotte Friedman confirmed as much on 32 Thoughts, naming two specific teams tied to the winger.
"The Canadiens have been around that, the Islanders have been around that, I'm sure there's others," Friedman said.
That's a real expansion of a rumor that's mostly centered on Edmonton's interest up to this point.
NHL Rumour Report added a specific detail, reporting Montreal made a genuine big push for Marchenko around the draft back in June.
That timing matters. A push at the draft signals real front-office interest, not just casual background scouting.
Marchenko posted 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points last season on a bargain $3,850,000 cap hit.
-
Marchenko's market appears to be expanding quickly, with the Canadiens, Devils, Flyers, Avalanche and Rangers all believed to have interest in the Blue Jackets winger.
Montreal has already been linked to a serious push, while the other clubs each make sense as potential landing spots because of Marchenko's scoring upside and team-friendly contract.
With several teams reportedly monitoring the situation, Columbus could soon have more leverage than expected. If the Blue Jackets decide to listen, this could turn into one of the most competitive trade races of the offseason.
Elliotte Friedman confirms Montreal is firmly in the Kirill Marchenko race
That kind of production at that price is precisely why his name keeps surfacing across multiple markets at once.
He's also entering the final year of his contract before restricted free agency arrives in July 2027, adding real urgency to any decision.
Reports throughout the summer have suggested he isn't interested in signing long-term in Columbus, which keeps fueling speculation everywhere.
Montreal finished last season 48-24-10, good for sixth overall, exactly the kind of team that can afford to chase value like this.
Is Columbus actually more likely to trade him now that multiple suitors are confirmed, or does that just drive the asking price higher?
It's the trade equivalent of a house getting multiple offers the same week it lists. Suddenly the seller has options nobody expected.
Columbus itself hasn't been reported as actively shopping him, which keeps this entire situation in speculation territory for now.
My take: when three or more teams are independently linked to the same underpriced player, that's rarely just noise. Something usually gives eventually, one way or another.
Camp is close, and Marchenko's name now belongs to a genuinely crowded market rather than a single-team rumor limited to Edmonton alone.
Should the Canadiens go all-in and trade for Kirill Marchenko?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Chris Kreider hits free agency after crazy Ducks contract termination
