Don Waddell losing leverage with Kirill Marchenko
David Ettedgui: The longer the Kirill Marchenko situation drags on, his trade value may be dropping. Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell can play hardball, but his leverage may be shrinking. Two scenarios that don’t really work in the Blue Jackets’ favour.
“Scenario 1: Marchenko has a down year. If his production dips or he collapses this season, his trade value tanks and the return offered to Columbus gets hit hard.
Scenario 2: Marchenko has a monster season. With the current salary explosion, he’ll demand a massive contract. Consequence? The number of teams able to pull off a “sign-and-trade” will plummet dramatically. Waddell won’t even be able to drum up a bidding war, since very few clubs will have the cap space to both give up key pieces and absorb a huge deal.”
Now, may be the best time to move him to maximize the return. A sign-and-trade with an eight-year deal – maybe in the $9 to $9.5 million range. That may get a team like the Montreal Canadiens or Utah Mammoth to overpay for Machenko.
NHL Rumors: Asking Price for Kirill Marchenko is High
Does Kiril Marchenko even make sense for the Montreal Canadiens?
The Sick Podcast with Tony Marino: Pierre McGuire on if trading for Kirill Marchenko even make sense, given their areas of need.
** NHL Rumors.com transcription
“I think they have to evaluate where they see the player long term. And the organizational need, well, there are two. One is on right defense, and the other one is a second (line) center.
Marchenko is not a defenseman. He’s not a defensive player, so he didn’t fit on the defense. He’s not a center iceman. He’s a winger. He has never been a center iceman.
I don’t know where some of these people reporting this. He’s a perfect fit for Montreal. He could be their second. He’s doesn’t play center.
So, does he fit? Yeah, could he be an upgrade on (Alex) Newhook on the, offensively, he could. Newhook does a lot other stuff besides the offense. And I think that’s the part that’s always overlooked on Alex Newhook is that he doesn’t get enough credit for being a complete player, he’s a pretty complete player. He doesn’t score easily, but he does a lot other stuff.
Montreal Canadiens Rumors: Kirill Marchenko and Remaining Patient
So I don’t know if Marchenko is a fit for them. If I were going to be spending assets and I was going to be spending money, I’d be trying to do to the second center. Because you know everybody’s like Michael Hage this, Michael Hage that. It’s not that easy.”
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