The Marchenko Mystery: Is a Bot Account About to Break NHL News?

Social media activity has sparked speculation surrounding a potential trade involving Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. An automated bot on X that monitors NHL players' Instagram accounts highlighted recent mutual follows between Marchenko and Boston Bruins players, including David Pastrnak and Nikita Zadorov.

While social media follows often occur naturally among players who train together or share agents, the activity comes amid ongoing uncertainty regarding Marchenko's future in Columbus. Several teams have been linked to the forward during the offseason, with Boston emerging as a new subject of trade rumors.