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Around the NHL: Trade talks heating up on Blue Jackets’ Marchenko, Tortorella searching for new gig

Photo credit: Bob Lee, Imagn Images

By Jeremy Tingly

Jul 27, 2026, 08:45 EDTUpdated: Jul 27, 2026, 08:44 EDT

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Welcome back to another Monday edition of Around the NHL. The offseason is creeping into August, training camps are just around the corner, vacations are starting to wind down, and on-ice training will be picking up in a major way these next few weeks.

There’s still be plenty of trade chatter going on throughout the league, there’s still several free agents who need contracts for next season, and head coaching candidates continuing their search for a new team for next season. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Trade offers made for Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko

According to multiple reports, the Columbus Blue Jackets are discussing a Kirill Marchenko trade with two teams, one being the Montreal Canadiens. Talks have advanced significantly throughout the past week, while Marchenko is back home in Russia, training for next season.

Marchenko is a pending restricted free agent at the end of next season, with a $3.8 million cap hit this season. The former 2018 second-round pick dressed in 76 games last season, scoring 27 goals, and 67 points. Marchenko posted career numbers in 2025, sniping 31 goals and 74 points in 79 games.

The Blue Jackets have been going back and forth with several teams, trying to find the best deal to ensure they don’t take a giant step back. Columbus general manager Don Waddell knows Marchenko isn’t interested in signing a long-term contract extension, which has sparked a ton of trade conversations throughout the summer months.

Waddell has also had to deal with Zach Werenski’s trade fiasco, and it seems that both sides have since put the trade talks behind them. With Marchenko with one foot out, the Blue Jackets’ GM will have to ensure they receive some scoring touch coming back in the package, as Marchenko’s a huge part of the team’s offense, which had a hard enough time scoring goals last season.

While the Canadiens have been linked, don’t be surprised to see the Buffalo Sabres make a significant offer, as their management team knows Marchenko very well, and they’re searching for a top-line right winger, after Alex Tuch was moved, and Patrick Kane chose to head back to Chicago.

John Tortorella wants another shot at NHL head coach

John Tortorella did an amazing job leading the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final last season, and while it was just a quick stint in Vegas, Torts wants to get back behind an NHL bench, as soon as possible.

“Oh, I want to coach,” Tortorella told The Athletic’s Joe Smith. “I want to coach now. I’m not sure if that happens, and that’s where I am in my career. But I wanted to coach that Vegas team. I told (general manager Kelly McCrimmon) that.”

Tortorella went on a magical run behind the Golden Knights bench, taking over for Bruce Cassidy with just a stunning eight games left in the regular season. Torts went 7-0-1 and then 14-6 in the playoffs. While many felt he’d stick around and sign a long-term extension to remain Vegas’ bench boss, that wasn’t the case at all, and the team promoted Ryan Craig from their AHL affiliate.

“I guess the word I’d use is ‘disappointed,'” Tortorella said. “I was honest with Kelly. We met the next morning (after Game 6). Kelly is very honest, and he let me know within one minute of sitting down in that meeting – he basically told me, ‘Ryan Craig is coaching the team next year.’ I told him what I thought, and we had an honest conversation. I truly respect where the organization is going.

“We didn’t finish the job, and I wanted some more time with that club to try to finish the job. That’s not my call. That’s the general manager and president’s call. You just get about your business after that.”

Tortorella ranks ninth all-time with 777 wins, and has coached in Tampa Bay, New York, Vancouver, Columbus, and Philadelphia.

Quick hits from around the NHL

Dylan Larkin still wants out of Detroit, and continues to be linked to the Minnesota Wild the most heavily, along with the Philadelphia Flyers, who have become a dark horse.
Blue Jackets extended Cole Sillinger on a three-year deal, worth $4.6 million AAV. Sillinger had 33 points last season.
Florida Panthers inked goaltender Akira Schmid to a two-year contract, worth $2 million AAV.
Despite signing a one-year, $12-million contract, Jason Robertson is non-committal to the Dallas Stars long term.
Patrik Laine is still without a contract, and has been recently linked to the Sabres, Seattle Kraken, or Carolina Hurricanes.
Free-agent defenceman Logan Stanley was hopeful the Winnipeg Jets would circle back this summer, but decided to go with Mario Ferraro instead. The towering D-man is still without a contract for next season.
Former Maple Leaf Michael Bunting has been linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, and Edmonton Oilers.
Vladimir Tarasenko is still without a contract, and has ties to the Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Canadiens, Kraken, and Flyers.

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