Blue Jackets GM Issues Statement After Blockbuster Trade

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell issued a statement following a major trade completed on the eve of the 2026-27 NHL season. The Blue Jackets traded winger Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, and winger Miles Wood to Toronto in exchange for winger Matthew Knies, center Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a second-round draft pick.

Waddell publicly thanked Marchenko, Merzlikins, and Wood for their contributions to the organization. The move came after Marchenko requested a trade from Columbus, with the Blue Jackets adding 23-year-old Knies to a core featuring center Adam Fantilli.