Toronto and Columbus made a huge trade – six players switched NHL teams
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded a star forward just before the NHL season began. Matthew Knies, 23, is moving to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Toronto is receiving Kirill Martshenko, 26, in return.
A total of six players are involved in the trade. Along with Martshenko, Toronto will also receive goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and forward Miles Wood. In addition to Knies, Columbus will get Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz, and a second-round draft pick in the summer of 2027. Columbus will also pay 18 percent of Merzlikins’ $5.4 million salary this season.
Martshenko’s departure had been discussed throughout the summer. Reports emerged that the Russian forward was unlikely to sign an extension with Columbus. His current contract is valid for this season.
In Toronto, they are already talking about a completely different salary range. Martshenko’s agent Dan Milstein wrote on X that the player has verbally agreed to a six-year, $75 million extension. Its average salary would be $12.5 million per season, while Martshenko’s current contract has an average salary of $3.5 million.
Last season, Martshenko scored 67 points (27+40) in Columbus.
Knies’ name, on the other hand, has been circulating in trade rumors since last spring. He scored 66 points (23+43) in 79 games last season. Knies’ contract runs until the summer of 2031, with an average salary of $7.75 million.
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