Marchenko Trade Imminent as Montreal Circles; Bedard Stays Put on Long-Term Bet

Kirill Marchenko is not coming back to Columbus. Per reporting from RG.org, a source close to the Blue Jackets' forward says trade talks are in final stages, with Marchenko expecting to land elsewhere within days. The team is no longer shopping him casually—they're negotiating terms. Montreal has emerged as the primary suitor, having expressed interest in a top-six forward who can move the needle on a rebuilding roster.

Marchenko arrives as an expiring contract, which complicates the equation. He's owed money; the acquiring team will need to either extend him or play out the final season knowing a playoff-deadline exit is possible. Montreal's cap situation limits their ability to throw future draft capital at the deal—they can't afford to rebuild AND overpay for a one-year rental. That constraint matters. The Canadiens are two years into a youth cycle and counting on prospects; they need Marchenko to be the bridge scorer while their pipeline matures, not a deadline flip. If the deal closes, expect a relatively modest ask: picks in the second or third round, possibly a fringe prospect.

The Marchenko move also signals where Columbus is headed. The Blue Jackets are not competing this season. Moving an elite offensive weapon mid-offseason is an admission of long-term reset, not a playoff tweak. For bettors tracking team direction and pace of play, Columbus games will tilt toward lower totals and safer under-betting. Montreal, conversely, gains offensive juice—Marchenko's addition to a lineup short on elite goal-scorers will compress game spreads and push team totals upward, especially in early-season matchups where fresh lineups haven't yet faced elite defensive schemes.

Separately, Connor Bedard's refusal of an offer sheet removes a major uncertainty from the Blackhawks' offseason equation. Bedard told Chicago from the outset he had no interest in testing free agency via sheet, a signal of franchise loyalty that matters for team morale and internal stability. His long-term commitment allows the Hawks to build forward with confidence—they're not negotiating with a player hedging his position. For prop purposes, this clarifies Bedard's workload. He will remain Chicago's primary scorer and leverage point. Expect his assist and shot volume to carry less variance than peers dealing with contract limbo. Teams facing the Hawks can game-plan around Bedard's predictable ice time and role, which could depress his individual prop lines relative to talent. The market may not yet price that stability discount.

For Montreal, the Marchenko arrival tilts their team totals and goal props higher across the 2026-27 schedule, particularly in soft matchups early. For Columbus, expect unders on team totals and broader pace compression as they shift to a youth-heavy, lower-scoring identity. Bedard's long-term deal keeps his shot and assist volume steady but predictable—a liability for bettors seeking variance edges.