One of the few good stories of the 2022-23 Blue Jackets season has been the play of rookie winger Kirill Marchenko. On Sunday, Marchenko broke the franchise record for single-season goals by a rookie, previously set by Pierre-Luc Dubois in 2017-18, scoring his 21st goal of the season. It took Marchenko 53 games to score his 21st, while it took Dubois 80 games to score his 20th.
#CBJ Marchenko (21) goal pic.twitter.com/0zTJ25cqzc
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) April 3, 2023
According to Evolving-Hockey.com, Marchenko leads the 2022-23 Blue Jackets in expected goals above replacement (xGAR) with 13.9, expected wins above replacement (xWAR) with 2.4, and expected standings points above replacement (xSPAR) with 4.5.
Sure, it's nice that he's scored over 20 goals, but the goal that has me believing he can be a perennial 30-to-40-goal-scorer is the second one he scored against Edmonton in late February.
#CBJ Marchenko (16) goal pic.twitter.com/dPw1R8dVs2
— Coby Maeir (@CobyMaeir) February 25, 2023
Look at the way he changes the angle of his shot with a toe-drag move before firing the puck right out of the move, a-la reigning MVP and 60-goal-scorer Auston Matthews.
Auston Matthews, king of the toe dragpic.twitter.com/d1DY8uDrNy
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) December 5, 2018
Marchenko, like fellow rookie Kent Johnson, is an incredibly hard worker. He's always working at certain areas of his craft and is one of the last players off the ice following a morning skate or practice. If you combine hard work and talent with good health, you usually get a superstar in the NHL. Marchenko certainly has a chance to be one.
