Kirill Marchenko, drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018, made a strong debut in the 2022-2023 NHL season with 21 goals in 59 games. In the 2023-2024 season, he improved his overall game, boosting his assists and total points but maintaining a similar goal count despite playing more games. His performance was mixed, showing both development and areas for growth as a potential elite goal scorer.

By the Numbers
  • 21 goals in 59 games (2022-2023)
  • 23 goals in 78 games (2023-2024)
  • Assists: 4 to 19 (2022-2023 to 2023-2024)
  • Total points: 25 to 42 (2022-2023 to 2023-2024)
Yes, But

Despite increasing his assists and point total, Marchenko's goals per game rate decreased. This decline suggests challenges in his primary role as a goal scorer, raising expectations for further improvement in future seasons.

State of Play
  • Marchenko is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
  • The Blue Jackets are expected to secure him for a long-term contract as part of their young core.
What's Next

The Blue Jackets' new general manager faces a key decision on Marchenko's contract, with a strong case for offering a 6+ year deal to maximize his prime years with the team. This move could solidify Marchenko's role and help him reach elite goal scorer status.

Bottom Line

While Marchenko’s goal tally was disappointing compared to expectations, his overall development and potential merit a long-term commitment from the Blue Jackets to help shape their future success.