It's time to get excited about the Blue Jackets' future.
With Kent Johnson, Adam Boqvist, Corson Ceulemans, Kirill Marchenko, and Cole Sillinger in the pipeline along with two first-round picks in next year's NHL Draft, the future is looking bright.
Boqvist will undoubtedly begin the NHL season with the Blue Jackets, and Cole Sillinger will attend training camp. Ceulemans will play at the University of Wisconsin, and Johnson will suit up at the University of Michigan. Over on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Marchenko is playing in the KHL with SKA, and he's started the campaign with a bang.
Through three games, Marchenko has tallied three goals and an assist to help SKA start the season 3-0. The 21-year-old has shown that he can produce at the KHL level, notching 15-13-28 in 41 games last season at the age of 20.
GUESS WHO
— This is the KHL (@ThatPuckStick) September 6, 2021
Kirill Marchenko
4-0 SKA #KHL #CBJ pic.twitter.com/nblILKcaoX
Most notably for the Blue Jackets, Marchenko is in the last year of his contract with SKA. After their season ends, the Blue Jackets will try to convince Marchenko to cross the Atlantic and begin his career in the Blue Jackets organization. He's blossoming into a top-six winger with goalscoring ability, and the Blue Jackets can always use that type of player.
Kirill Marchenko's hands at work pic.twitter.com/DEaNj7zOah
— KHL (@khl_eng) September 5, 2021
With his size (6'2.5") and shot, Marchenko has the potential to become a special player at the highest level. Most project him to be NHL-ready next year, so if the Blue Jackets are able to get him to come to North America, he should be poised to make an immediate impact.
