After spending four years in Russian professional leagues, the 22-year old forward is now eager to help Columbus while chasing his NHL dream.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – It was a sweltering June day in Dallas when Kirill Marchenko heard his name announced at the 2018 NHL draft.
He was a tall, lanky forward with the frame and skills to elicit projections of a power forward with offensive upside. He spoke no English. His only facial hair was a peach-fuzz mustache.
“My only wish today was to be picked by one of the teams,” Marchenko said, using an interpreter. “I’m very happy that Columbus picked me and this is probably one of the best days of my life … and that’s a dream come true.”
It became a dream that was put on hold.
Blue Jackets played the waiting game with Kirill Marchenko
After making his Kontinental Hockey League debut for Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk during his draft year, Marchenko shifted to SKA St. Petersburg in 2018-19. He continued to mature until he was ready to make an impact in the KHL, Russia’s top professional league, the following season (2019-20).
Netting seven goals, dishing out nine assists and totaling 16 points in 31 games as a rookie for SKA St. Petersburg, the Blue Jackets’ prospect showed enough to make Columbus eager to sign him. Instead, feeling pressure from his KHL team, Marchenko agreed to a two-year contract extension that kept him in Russia for two more years.
It was less than ideal for the Blue Jackets and Marchenko, who didn’t want to delay his NHL career.
Rather than pout, he shined in the KHL with 15-13-28 over 41 games in 2020-21, making it clear that he was a budding KHL star and likely NHL player. A new contract extension was presented by SKA St. Petersburg in October, a three-year deal, but Marchenko balked at that one.
He stood his ground, didn’t sign and informed the team of his intent to chase his NHL dream. That’s how Marchenko ended up on this year’s Blue Jackets roster for the 2022 Traverse City Prospects Tournament, after signing a two-year NHL entry-level deal last spring.
Blue Jackets’ Marchenko banished to minors in final KHL season
After his decision, Marchenko paid a hefty price in his final KHL season.
His ice time vanished.
Despite scoring 12 goals and adding eight assists in 39 games, he played mostly on the fourth line and was eventually sent to SKA St. Petersburg’s team in the VHL, which is Russia’s version of the American Hockey League. It was a frustrating situation for Marchenko, who’d put up a career-best 15-13-28 the previous year, but he stuck to his NHL plan.
He arrived in Columbus in July for his first Blue Jackets development camp and his wife, Viktoria, arrived a couple of weeks later. They stayed for the remainder of the summer and now awaits his first opportunity to win an NHL roster spot at a training camp that starts Wednesday.
It’s been a long wait.
He’s 22-years old now and isn’t lanky anymore. He stands a solid 6 feet 3, 187 pounds and battles for pucks like an NHL forward. He’s married, wears a full beard and is quickly learning English. The Blue Jackets hope he’s just as quick picking up the NHL’s style of play, which is faster and more frenetic.
BlueJackets rookie Kirill Marchenko adapting to NHL style
Two games into the transition, Marchenko has made a good impression.
“He’s a workhorse,” said Cleveland Monsters coach Trent Vogelhuber, who’s running the Blue Jackets bench in Traverse City. “He wants it and he competes on pucks. And when he makes a mistake, it’s not floating back. He’s (mad) and getting back there to make up for it. Those are all positive habits, which we’re looking for more than executing certain systems at this point.”
Marchenko said he’s already feeling more comfortable and is confident his skill will translate even more over time.
“Today was a good game, but I can score more goals,” Marchenko said Friday after scoring his second goal of the tournament in a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. “I could’ve scored two (Thursday), two today and maybe three. I’m happy that I scored one goal (Friday), but I’ve done better and plan to score more.”
If so, he’ll contend for a role in Columbus right away.
“I expect him to fight for a spot,” said agent Mark Gandler, who represents Marchenko. “How that’s going to turn out? No one knows. It’s hard to say until you see him compete against NHL competition, in terms of his strength, but frankly, I thought he was ready a couple years ago.”