Kirill Marchenko

Marchenko registered a career-high 42 points in 78 games during the 2023-24 campaign. The 24-year-old forward improved from 21 goals the previous season to a team-high 23 tallies and went from four assists to 19. He went through some extended scoring slumps while heating up during other stretches. The Blue Jackets were not a high-octane offense in 2023-24, so consistency issues weren't surprising for the second-year winger. Still, he ranked first on the team in goals, second in shots on net (193), third in points, and second in power-play points (13). Marchenko should be able to continue progressing in 2024-25 as a member of Columbus' top six and an integral component of the club's first power-play combination.

A candidate for the NHL version of the "Cy Young Award," Marchenko scored 21 goals and had just four assists in 59 games in his rookie season. Seven of the tallies (and one helper) came with the man advantage. Marchenko also posted an ugly minus-23 rating. He's a difficult player to assess from a fantasy perspective. Marchenko shot 16 percent, suggesting regression is coming, and the Jackets have an interesting combination of highly-paid veterans (Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine) and top prospects (Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson) to potentially steal playing time from Marchenko, but his success last season means the club almost has to give him a significant role to begin the 2023-24 campaign. This one could go either way.

The Blue Jackets were forced to play the long game with Marchenko, selecting him in the second round in 2018 and waiting while he spent four seasons in his native Russia. Columbus finally got him under contract in May. Now 22 years of age, Marchenko would appear to be NHL ready. He's posted 27 goals and 48 points in 80 KHL games over the course of the past two years. There may be an adjustment period, but Columbus needs to get as many young, skilled players in its lineup as possible and Marchenko certainly falls into that category. He's a sneaky keeper/dynasty asset.