Blue Jackets trade Marchenko, Merzlikins, Wood to Toronto; acquire Kneis

Monday, September 28,  2026
CBUSsports Staff
info@cbussports.com

Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko on the ice

Kirill Marchenko (above) is on his way to Toronto after the Blue Jackets made a six-player trade Monday with the Maple Leafs, which also sent Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood to the Leafs. Photo: Kevin Lam

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired left wing Matthew Knies, defenseman Emil Andrae, center Steven Lorentz, and a conditional second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, and left wing Miles Wood, club general manager Don Waddell announced today.

Marchenko, who would have been a restricted free agent following this season, signed a six-year, $75 million contract ($12.5 million AAV) with the Maple Leafs that starts next season, according to his agent, Dan Milstein. The 26-year-old will earn a base salary of $3,975,00 this season.

Kneis is the centerpiece of the deal for Columbus. The 23-year-old signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract ($7.75 million average annual value) with Toronto at the end of the 2024-25 season. He had an NHL career-high 66 points (23 goals, 43 assists) in 79 games for the Maple Leafs last season.

A native of Phoenix, Kneis attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was drafted by Toronto in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft and signed with the team in 2023. In four seasons with the Leafs, he has 160 points (67 goals, 93 assists) in 240 regular-season games and 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 27 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Kneis is listed on the Blue Jackets’ roster released today, along with Andrae. Andrae, 24, has registered 3-17-20 in 107 games over the past three seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, who selected him in the second-round of the 2020 NHL Draft. The native of Vasterviks, Sweden was traded to Toronto this past summer.

Merzlikins, 32, was 108-111-38 with a 3.22 GAA and .900 save percentage in 274 regular-season games, all with Columbus. He will make a base salary of $5,400,000 this season, the final year of his five-year, $27,000,000 contract. It is reported that the Blue Jackets will retain 18 percent ($759,600) of his salary this season. He is currently recovering from August shoulder surgery and is on the injured non-roster list.