That was close.
Kirill Marchenko agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, avoiding what would have been the team's first-ever arbitration hearing. The deal is worth a total of $11.55 million.
The contract carries an average annual value of $3.85 million.
“Marchenko has been an important player for the Blue Jackets during his first two NHL seasons," said President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell. "Reaching an agreement to keep him in Columbus was important to us."
Marchenko, who turned 24 on July 21st, was one of the few bright spots in Columbus last season. He led the Blue Jackets in goals with 23 and ranked third on the club with 42 points, trailing only Johnny Gaudreau (60) and Zach Werenski (57).
“He has size, skill and the ability to score goals and will continue to be a big part of our core group moving forward," said Waddell.
In his two years with the Blue Jackets, Marchenko has played in 137 games and has 44 goals and 23 assists for a total of 67 points. His nine power play goals in 2023-24 were three more than anyone else on the team.
The extension was the second one announced of the weekend, with the club announcing Saturday that Kent Johnson signed a three-year extension worth $5.4 million.
Marchenko's arbitration hearing had been scheduled for July 31st. Defenseman Jake Christiansen and goalie Jet Greaves also filed for arbitration, but neither came to fruition. Christiansen and the Blue Jackets agreed to terms July 10th, with Greaves agreeing to a contract July 13th.
While arbitration hearings are a guaranteed way to get a contract done, they can and typically do besmirch the relationship between a player and a team. Columbus' history of never going the distance is one of only a few feathers in the cap for a team that has historically played tough in contract negotiations.
Across the league, a total of 14 players filed for arbitration. Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney is the only player thus far to have an arbitrator make a ruling, with Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes and Ryan Lindgren of the New York Rangers still negotiating in advance of their potential arbitration hearings.
With Marchenko now signed, Cole Sillinger remains the only player on the roster without a contract for the upcoming season. Sillinger, 21, is a restricted free agent but does not have arbitration rights.
