For most of the summer, it has felt like the Montreal Canadiens have been chasing an upgrade in their Top 6 and Columbus Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko has been the logical target. However, the Blue Jackets' general manager, Don Waddell, has seemingly been reluctant to make a move and recently explained what he is looking for if he ever decides to trade Marchenko:
“I have talked to him directly,” Waddell said of Marchenko. “I’ve always said, I’m not opposed to trading anybody. But that trade’s got to help the Columbus Blue Jackets. And if there’s a trade for him or any other player that makes sense for us, we’re going to look at it. That’s my job everyday.”
“So, as we sit here today, he’s a member of the Blue Jackets and we’ll see how this all plays out.”
This makes it a little tougher for Canadiens' general manager Kent Hughes, as the strength of their trade assets lies more in futures, either prospects or draft picks. However, it isn't impossible when considering what the Blue Jackets might need.
Canadiens can help the Blue Jackets address several needs in a Kirill Marchenko trade
There is no question that the Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be trading the best player in this trade package in Marchenko. The Canadiens don't have a player of his caliber so it has to be more quantity than quality when putting together a trade package.
This is not necessarily a bad thing and could actually help Columbus bring some balance to their roster. For Montreal, they should lead with restricted free agent Zachary Bolduc, who has already proven to be a quality NHL player between his time in St. Louis and last season in Montreal.
However, it does come with a hurdle, as the Blue Jackets would need to feel confident that Bolduc would be willing to sign a long-term deal with them.
After that, the Canadiens could offer a defenseman and let Columbus have their pick of any of them not named Lane Hutson or Noah Dobson. Mike Matheson has a no-movement clause, so he is unlikely to be moved, and all things considered, it probably would be either David Reinbacher or Adam Engstrom.
The good news for Montreal is that they have the depth to manage losing one of these players. It is hard to imagine that the Blue Jackets would pass over the chance to add Reinbacher, who has probably the highest upside, and that is why he was included here.
The final player that the Canadiens could include is Samuel Montembeault, as the Blue Jackets don't have depth at goalie with Elvis Merzlikins undergoing shoulder surgery. Montembeault is coming off a down season, so in terms of value, it probably isn't great, but Columbus probably would be willing to give him a chance. If he bounces back, then they could trade him to get additional value once Merzlikins returns.
Unfortunately, these three players alone don't get a deal done and the Canadiens would need to add some draft capital, even though Waddell wants pieces that can help them right now. A first round pick in 2028 and a second-round pick in 2027 should be enough to get this deal done.
The Blue Jackets ultimately are in a position where they don't have to trade Marchenko right now but if they get the indication that he won't re-sign this summer, they would be smart to move him sooner rather than later.
General manager Kent Hughes should make one final call before training camp to extend this offer. If Waddell still is reluctant to move Marchenko, it should be time for the Canadiens to move on and focus on the beginning of the season.
They should turn their focus to re-signing Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj and go into the season with the roster they have. It is something they may want to revisit a month or two into the season, depending on how they start, but they can't continue to wait for Columbus.
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