Kirill Marchenko Addresses Blue Jackets Future Amid NHL Trade Rumors After Agent's Comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets might have to continue dealing with more trade rumors amid the team's ongoing contract dispute with Adam Fantilli.

Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko did not answer definitively when asked Friday if he enjoyed playing in Columbus.

When asked if he "liked playing hockey here," Marchenko answered, "Yeah, I love to play hockey."

Marchenko was then asked to clarify on whether that applied "here."

"It's a good question," Marchenko said (around 3:20 mark in video). "I can say yes, because I play here for sure. But... I can answer only on the hockey."

Marchenko, a native Russian speaker , also noted he was not conducting the interview in his first language.

His agent told reporters earlier this offseason Marchenko does not intend to re-sign with the Blue Jackets, per The Athletic's Aaron Portzline .

Marchenko is currently signed through the upcoming season and set to hit restricted free agency in 2027, per PuckPedia . He is set to play his age-25 season under a $3.85 million cap hit.

The winger recorded 67 points, including a team-high 27 goals, in 76 games for the Blue Jackets last season while mostly playing alongside Fantilli.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told reporters Wednesday he met recently with Marchenko, who told Waddell he's "not sure what's going to happen" when he hits restricted free agency.

"He said, 'I'm going to play my butt off here, and help this team win,'" Waddell said. "He's really a good person that cares."

Marchenko's comments come after Fantilli, a pending restricted free agent, refused to report to training camp amid ongoing negotiations for a new deal.

Waddell said at his Wednesday press conference he is "still confident" the Blue Jackets will be able to finalize a new deal with Fantilli "in the near future."

This isn't the first contract negotiation that has become a drawn-out process this offseason in Columbus, where the Jackets finalized a three-year extension for starting netminder Jet Greaves just before a scheduled arbitration hearing in July.

The Blue Jackets have also previously dealt with trade rumors surrounding reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, who vetoed a deal that would have sent him to the Dallas Stars in June.

Werenski, who has two years remaining on his own contract, said earlier this month he will "hopefully" sign an extension in Columbus when he becomes eligible next summer.

The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year last season after ranking 19th in the NHL with three goals per game. Keeping last season's top two goalscorers in Marchenko and Fantilli in the fold could be key to Columbus' hopes of putting together a more competitive campaign this fall.