Kirill Marchenko to make Leafs debut after resolving work visa issue

Newly acquired Toronto Maple Leafs winger Kirill Marchenko will hit the ice on Tuesday night in the NHL’s 2026-27 curtain-raising evening, suiting up for his new team against the Montreal Canadiens. It took until the final hours before puckdrop for concerns to subside about Marchenko’s Leafs debut, with the Russian forward facing work visa complications with his first Canadian team, despite five seasons in the United States with the Columbus Blue Jackets. “That’s the goal,” Chayka told reporters on Tuesday morning. “It’s out of our hands right now, with immigration and making sure we get the right paperwork done. But…