How Marchenko trade rumors to Canadiens collapsed in 48 hours

On July 25 a source close to Kirill Marchenko claimed the Blue Jackets were negotiating a trade that could reshape the league’s summer market.

Rumor surfaces again on July 25

RG Media’s Daria Tuboltseva published the initial report citing a source close to the 26-year-old right winger. The article positioned Montreal as the frontrunner for a scorer after the Canadiens had already explored other options earlier in the summer. Marco D’Amico, a colleague at the same outlet, followed with a tweet stating the Habs remained interested but could not confirm any deal.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell had already stated one month earlier that Marchenko would not be moved. The July 25 report therefore directly contradicted the public stance Waddell took in late June. Columbus fans noted the timing coincided with stalled extension talks between Marchenko’s camp and the team.

Social media speculation exploded within hours. Fans on both sides calculated possible return packages ranging from multiple first-round picks to young roster players plus prospects. No official statement came from either club on July 25.

Denials arrive on July 26 and 27

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic and Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers both tweeted on July 26 that they had nothing new to report despite the weekend speculation. Their statements carried weight because both writers cover the Blue Jackets daily and maintain direct lines to the front office.

Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reached Waddell directly. The general manager refuted the notion that any trade talks had advanced. Waddell also confirmed he was prioritizing three restricted free agents: Jet Greaves, Cole Sillinger and Adam Fantilli. Greaves and Sillinger signed new contracts the previous week, removing two arbitration cases from the docket.

Fantilli remained unsigned on July 27. An offer sheet from another club could reach $15 million in total value and would consume most of Columbus’s remaining cap flexibility beyond the current season. That limited room explains why Waddell publicly dismissed any Marchenko trade that would further complicate the roster.

Marchenko’s agent and future outlook

Marchenko’s agent Dan Milstein posted on social media dismissing a separate rumor that extension negotiations with Montreal had already begun. The denial removed one layer of the original speculation. At 26 years old, Marchenko posted 24 goals in the prior season, making him attractive but not yet in the final year of his contract.

By July 27 the Canadiens had not acquired a top-six scorer through trade. Columbus continued its internal focus on retaining its core before the August 15 offer-sheet window closed. The 48-hour rumor cycle produced no movement on either side.