Report: New Team Emerges As Suitor For Blue Jackets Kirill Marchenko

Kirill Marchenko's list of suitors keeps growing, and Vegas is the newest name attached to it.

Elliotte Friedman connected the Golden Knights to the Columbus Blue Jackets winger during Friday's episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast.

Friedman grouped Vegas alongside the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken, and Winnipeg Jets as teams that have shown interest or checked in on Marchenko this offseason.

Vegas Joins The Marchenko Sweepstakes

Vegas has been connected to plenty of big names this offseason, including Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck, without those situations turning into anything concrete.

Kirill Marchenko was asked if he wants to play hockey in Columbus.

“I want to play hockey. It’s all I can say right now.”

From the source Video below. #CBJ

Marchenko's fit looks different for one reason.

The Golden Knights already have depth at center, but adding a proven scoring winger like Marchenko would address a need, instead of just stacking another player at a position they're already deep at.

Marchenko has scored at least 20 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons, including 27 goals and 40 assists last season.

Friedman's reporting made clear Vegas is one of several teams in the mix, not the frontrunner.

Boston has already reportedly made an actual offer for Marchenko at some point, giving the Bruins a more concrete connection than most of the other names on the list.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Kirill Marchenko suitors/Blue Jackets: Montreal; the Islanders; Toronto; Winnipeg at one point...looked into it; I heard Boston made an offer; I had some people say Vegas...other people saying they weren't sure; I have to think Seattle - 32 Thoughts (9/25)

Montreal and the Islanders have also been described as showing interest throughout the process.

For now, Vegas remains one name among many, and Columbus GM Don Waddell hasn't showed any urgency to move Marchenko purely for the sake of collecting assets.