Six players involved in the Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko trade

In a stunning blockbuster only hours before rosters are finalized, the Maple Leafs have traded Matthew Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Kirill Marchenko in a combined six-player deal.

Elliotte Friedman reported the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets were in deep discussions involving Kirill Marchenko, but no idea as to what the framework could be. Pierre LeBrun later added that the deal was centred around Matthew Knies as well as Marchenko and other pieces in addition to the two stars.

-

Well, we now have official confirmation of the trade and it does indeed involve Knies.

Toronto makes a stunning trade to send Knies to Columbus in six-player deal

The Maple Leafs have traded Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Marchenko, and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. There are more pieces coming but so far we have no idea as to the other pieces besides the 3 named.

-

Elliotte Friedman confirmed that the deal would send Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and a conditional second-round pick (SEA) to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Marchenko, Merzlikins, and Miles Wood; the Blue Jackets also retain 18% salary on Merzlikins:

-

-

According to Friedman as well, the extension between the Maple Leafs and Marchenko is expected to be in the range of $12.5M AAV for the next five or six seasons with the details still being worked out.

-

This was then confirmed by Marchenko's agent Dan Milstein, who posted a picture on social media with the details, coming in at $12.5M over six years:

-

Knies, 23, was a player who was expected to be a key player in the Maple Leafs' future and was under a very team-friendly contract. However there were some signs that he may not fit in the top-six in Toronto which could have led to him being included.

Marchenko, 26, is coming off a strong season where he had 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games for the Blue Jackets. But what Toronto is getting is nothing short of impressive:

-

-

-

It's another statement deal made by Chayka after making several this offseason including trading both Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby.

Who else was involved in the Matthew Knies trade?

In terms of the pieces sent, losing Knies hurts because he offered such a bright spot for the future of the team, and had legitimate leadership capabilities that could have made him a future captain for the team.

But instead, he is shipped off to Columbus where he will have a focal point at running the offence, and gets a chance to build chemistry with Zach Werenski. The Blue Jackets also get a strong defensive forward in Lorentz, who will help the bottom-six and they also get a young mobile defender in Andrae - who was acquired by Toronto in the Woll deal.

Toronto also brings in Wood, who by all accounts isn't a huge needle mover but is someone who offers physicality, toughness, scoring support and helps fill the gap left by Knies given he's 6-foot-2 and over 210 pounds.

Also to note, getting salary retention on a goalie who is already going to help the LTIR is a pretty solid financial move.

While it's a terribly sad day for the fans of Knies and those Maple Leafs faithful who were hoping he'd stick around, there's a serious positive in adding Marchenko given his talent and it could be a hated move that turns out to be the one Toronto needed all along.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs to acquire surprising new piece in imminent Matthew Knies for Kirill Marchenko trade