Kirill Marchenko is giving the Columbus Blue Jackets some good news, even as his contract situation keeps getting messier.
On Wednesday, insider Aaron Portzline reported that GM Don Waddell had a lengthy conversation with Marchenko about his future in Columbus.
The winger's camp went public this summer. His agent said he has no plans to re-sign with the Blue Jackets long term.
But Waddell says the player told him something different. Marchenko's exact words, according to the GM: "I'm going to play my butt off here."
An agent going public and a player saying something warmer behind closed doors is the hockey version of a couple denying a breakup while still liking each other's posts.
Does one quote erase an entire summer of agent chatter? Not on its own. But it changes the tone heading into a tense stretch.
Waddell didn't dodge the topic either. He brought it up directly, which isn't always how these situations get handled in a small market like Columbus.
Marchenko is putting together his best NHL season. He has 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points through 76 games.
Marchenko's $3.85 million cap hit becomes a growing problem
He's doing plenty of that damage with the man advantage, too. Marchenko has six power play goals and 17 power play assists this season.
That production is coming on a cap hit of just $3,850,000. If Columbus wants to keep him beyond this contract, that number is about to change fast.
The Blue Jackets sit 18th overall at 40-30-12, with 92 points on the season. One good quote does not fix what's happened lately.
Columbus has dropped two straight and gone 2-7-1 over its last 10 games, including a 1-2 loss to Washington in its last outing.
Rick Bowness has been behind the Columbus bench only since January, one more piece of a front office still trying to find stability.
Publicly, this looks like a win for the Blue Jackets. Privately, nothing is signed, and a warm quote doesn't guarantee a discount on the next contract.
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Waddell has the quote he wanted heading into a tense summer. Whether it turns into a real deal before Marchenko reaches the open market is a different story.
Do you believe Kirill Marchenko will actually re-sign in Columbus?
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