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Why Kirill Marchenko is the ideal top-six trade target for the Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Columbus Blue Jackets Kirill Marchenko

Photo credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

By Cynthia Ryley Delaney

Sep 27, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 26, 2026, 18:24 EDT

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The Edmonton Oilers’ roster doesn’t seem perfect just yet.

With only two years left on Connor McDavid’s current contract, it feels like the Oilers are missing a top-six forward entering the 2026-27 season, especially with Matthew Savoie injured. That top-six addition could come before the trade deadline, but why wait if a top-six forward is available right now?

It seems Kirill Marchenko may be available. According to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos, the Oilers are just one of several teams that “seem poised” to make a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the winger.

If the Oilers were to add Marchenko, it’d make a team already considered a contender that much better. Last season, the 26-year-old Russian scored 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games. That’s slightly below his career high of 31 goals and 74 points he scored in 2024-25, but he’s hit the 20-plus goal mark in all four seasons he’s played in the National Hockey League.

A right-winger, it’s easy to envision the Barnaul, Russia, product slotting in right beside Connor McDavid on the top line. It would give them a bona fide top six, as he’d join McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, and Zach Hyman.

Acquiring Marchenko would also have a secondary impact of giving the Oilers more depth, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could play alongside Jason Dickinson and Kasperi Kapanen on the third line, and who knows where Isaac Howard would factor into the lineup?

It’s hard to say that the Oilers wouldn’t be the favourite if they added a player like Marchenko, but it’s easier said than done. Marchenko is on an affordable $3.85 million cap hit for the 2026-27 season, meaning there are plenty of other teams who are no doubt interested in the sweepstakes. For the first time in a while, the Oilers can actually fit that type of contract into the books.

That wouldn’t be much of a problem; there are only a finite number of contenders in the league, but Marchenko lacks trade protection. The Blue Jackets can send him to whatever team offers the best package, though he’s available for an extension, and that could factor into other teams’ interest.

Of course, that presents another issue as the Oilers have one of the worst farm systems in the National Hockey League. With the Blue Jackets vying for a playoff spot, you’d have to imagine that they’d want NHL-ready players in return. There’s almost no chance the Oilers acquire Marchenko without giving up one of Savoie or Howard.

The Oilers also have some draft picks available, though not many. Their top pick in the 2027 NHL Draft is the second-round pick. As of now, they won’t have another pick until the fifth round. Thanks to being in their window of contention, the Oilers don’t have their second-round picks in 2028 or 2029 either, but have their first-round picks from 2028 onward.

It stands to reason that the 2028 first-round pick will be involved in the trade, as it’s likely to be moved ahead of the 2027 trade deadline anyway.

The Oilers’ area of strength is in defence, as they have nine defencemen for just seven spots. Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman, Connor Murphy, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Shea’s spots are secured, but Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, Ty Emberson, and Alec Regula are four defencemen who could be traded or waived this season.

Working against the Oilers is their lack of high-potential prospects, not including Howard. What they do have a plethora of is NHL-ready prospects who fill depth roles. Could a player like Quinn Huston, Viljami Marjala, Damien Carfagna, or other players of that ilk be of interest to the Blue Jackets? What about their boatload of goaltending prospects like Connor Ungar, Nathaniel Day, Samuel Jonsson, and Eemil Vinni?

Add in a couple of more picks, and you have a trade package that looks similar to this (courtesy of PuckPedia’s PuckGM):

PuckPedia PuckGM

Does that get the deal done? The Blue Jackets get a high-potential youngster in Savoie, a middle-six potential scoring forward in Hutson, a third-pairing defenceman with room to grow in Emberson, and a trio of picks. This is most definitely an overpay at the hands of the Oilers, but you have to think this is a trade the Blue Jackets would accept.

That said, is it the best package that could be offered? Probably not. The Montréal Canadiens were another team interested in Marchenko, according to Kypreos. Unlike the Oilers, who are nearing the end of their window of contention, the Canadiens have just started being contenders.

For context, the Oilers’ prospect pool ranked 28th in Daily Faceoff’s top list, while the Canadiens ranked eighth. They can match that Oilers’ offer and then some, and be in a better position moving forward.

Ultimately, what it comes down to is where Marchenko wants to sign. While he lacks trade protection, Marchenko is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning that teams may be wary of trading for him if he doesn’t want to play there. If he wants to play for the Oilers, this could help their case in landing the top-six forward.

Realistically, the Oilers are better suited in seeing what they have in Howard for the time being. He’ll get an extended look in the top six with the injury to Savoie, and if he excels, the Oilers may not need another top-six forward heading into the trade deadline. Even if they do, trading for a player on an expiring contract like Alex DeBrincat may be the better path.

If they wish to bring in another top-six forward before the season begins, Vladimir Tarasenko and Michael Bunting remain free agents and could easily slot into the Oilers’ middle six at worst.

Marchenko is the best player who is seemingly available and obtainable for the Oilers, but the assets given up may set them back, other teams can beat the Oilers’ offer, and there are cheaper options out there.

Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @CynthiaRDelaney.

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