Kirill Marchenko: There’s been quite a bit of speculation linking him to the CH

What will the Canadiens do in the next few hours? That's the million-dollar question right now.

We know the club is currently looking into a lot of different options. And even though Jeff Gorton says the club expects to draft 28th tomorrow, there are reasons to be skeptical.

We'll believe it when we see it.

And it's interesting to note that in the last few minutes, one name has started to be linked quite a bit to the Canadiens: Kirill Marchenko.

Elliotte Friedman, for example, said he wouldn't be surprised if the Habs were among the teams looking into the matter.

Elliotte Friedman on the Canadiens: “I think Montreal is a team that is really stealthily trying (to add); I wouldn't be surprised if they were a Marchenko team, for example.” https://t.co/SR26sCyg7s

— HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) June 25, 2026

Marchenko is a Russian winger who turns 26 next month and has some very interesting strengths. He has tallied 74 and 67 points in his last two seasons, scoring 31 and 27 goals.

He's the kind of player who would fit perfectly on Ivan Demidov's line, even though he isn't a center.

And it's worth noting that since then, other sources have discussed Marchenko's situation and the Habs. Marco D'Amico, for example, drew parallels with Noah Dobson's situation last year.

Even though the Blue Jackets don't want to trade him, D'Amico notes that this is a situation to keep an eye on.

The Habs were sneaky last year in capitalizing on the Noah Dobson RFA situation with the NYI.

Kirill Marchenko, who is one year away from becoming a restricted free agent, could find himself in the same situation.

Sources say CLB doesn't want to trade him, though, but they're open to offers.

Something to keep an eye on.

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) June 25, 2026

And David Pagnotta, just a few minutes ago, mentioned in a post on X that the CH is “curious” about Marchenko.

So there's quite a bit of buzz, then.

Teams holding draft meetings this morning/today are making it seem quiet so far, but there's still plenty of chatter out there.

Some quick updates: The Sabres and Leafs discussed Carlo; the Habs are among the teams curious about CBJ's Marchenko; Florida may not be a good fit for Binnington; talks regarding Ristolainen are still ongoing

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 25, 2026

It's worth noting that Marchenko will earn $3.85 million next year and will become a free agent at the end of next season. The Habs will therefore have to be prepared to sign him to a long-term deal if they want to acquire him… and he could come at a high cost.

But in reality, he's an extremely intriguing player: one to watch, then.

Contract Extension

It's worth noting that Marchenko, just like Ivan Demidov, played for SKA in the KHL before coming to North America. And for those wondering, we're talking about a 6-foot-3 player who weighs 201 pounds: he isn't the most physical, but he isn't exactly a lightweight either.

And if Marchenko does end up joining the team, it might be easier for the Habs to convince Michael Hage to make the jump to the NHL next year, as he could have the chance to play center between Marchenko and Demidov.