*Photo from Sportsnet*
According to a team announcement, the Columbus Blue Jackets and RW Kirill Marchenko have agreed to a 3 year, $11.5 million contract.
Marchenko's entry level contract with the Blue Jackets expired at the end of the season, making him a restricted free agent when the new league year began July 1. His new contract pays him $3.85 million annually through the end of the 2026-2027 season, his age 26 season. He'll still have RFA eligibility when this deal expires.
Last season was Marchenko's second year in the NHL, where he had a strong offensive campaign. He set career highs in goals, assists, and points with 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points, averaging 16:25 of ice time per game with a career best -5 rating in 78 games, another career best.
A former second round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2018, Marchenko has been a reliable goal scorer in his two NHL seasons. He's exceeded 20 goals in both years and finished in the top 10 in voting for the Calder Trophy in 2022-2023, his rookie season.
Columbus GM Don Waddell said of Marchenko in a statement "Kirill Marchenko has been an important player for the Blue Jackets during his first two NHL seasons, and reaching an agreement to keep him in Columbus was important to us. He has size, skill and the ability to score goals and will continue to be a big part of our core group moving forward."
Marchenko will reach 200 NHL games played this coming season barring an extended absence. Over both years in the NHL, he has 44 goals and 23 assists to his name for 67 points, posting a -28 rating while averaging 16:19 of ice time per game in 137 games, all in the regular season.
With Marchenko and Kent Johnson signed to multi year contracts, the Blue Jackets have just under $11 million in cap space left. Their only remaining RFA without a contract is forward Cole Sillinger, who just finished his 3rd NHL season.
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