The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets and subsequently signed him to a six-year extension with a $12.5-million cap hit, Marchenko's agent, Dan Milstein, announced Monday.
Toronto sent forwards Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a second-round pick to Columbus for Marchenko, forward Miles Wood, and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, the teams announced.
Marchenko was set to become a restricted free agent next summer and had recently been noncommittal about signing a new deal in Columbus after reports surfaced over the summer that he wanted out.
The 26-year-old winger is set to earn $3.85 million this season. He notched 58 goals and 141 points in 155 games over the past two campaigns. Marchenko's $12.5-million cap hit will be tied for the 12th highest in the NHL with Connor McDavid and Bowen Byram when the contract begins in 2027-28.
Knies, 23, is signed through 2031 at a cap hit of $7.75 million. He recorded a career-high 66 points last season in a top-six role with Toronto. The Maple Leafs reportedly nearly traded him to the Montreal Canadiens at last season's deadline, and his name was prominent in trade rumors throughout the summer.
Merzlikins underwent shoulder surgery in August and is out indefinitely, meaning Toronto can place him on long-term injured reserve. The 32-year-old had an .883 save percentage in 30 games last season. He has one year left on his contract at a $5.4-million cap hit. Columbus is retaining $972,000, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Wood, 31, cleared waivers Sunday. He tallied eight goals and 14 points in 54 contests last season, his only one in Columbus. Wood is signed through 2028-29 at a $2.5-million cap hit.
Lorentz also cleared waivers, doing so Friday. The 30-year-old notched seven goals and 18 points in 71 games in 2025-26. He's signed through next season at a $1.35-million cap hit.
The Maple Leafs acquired Andrae from the Philadelphia Flyers in June as part of the Joseph Woll trade. The 24-year-old rearguard managed two goals and 13 points in 61 games last season with the Flyers. Toronto inked Andrae to a two-year contract with a $1.55-million cap hit in July.
The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets are currently over the salary cap limit after the trade, according to PuckPedia. Teams across the NHL had to submit compliant 23-man rosters by 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
The regular season begins Tuesday, with the Maple Leafs facing the Montreal Canadiens as part of the opening-night slate.
