Kirill Marchenko
Kirill Igorevich Marchenko is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. Marchenko was selected by the Blue Jackets with the 49th overall pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Kontinental Hockey League
Marchenko made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2017–18 season, with HC Yugra.After four seasons in the KHL with perennial contending club, SKA Saint Petersburg, Marchenko after the 2021–22 season, opted to pursue a North American career in agreeing to a two-year, entry level contract with draft club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on 2 May 2022.
National Hockey League
After participating in the Blue Jackets training camp, Marchenko was reassigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters. Through his first 16 games in the AHL, Marchenko accumulated eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points. He was recalled to the NHL level for the first time on 5 December 2022 for their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He made his NHL debut the following night, where he played 12 shifts through 10:03 minutes of ice time. After making his NHL debut, he went scoreless through his next three games before scoring his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings on 11 December. On 7 January 2023, Marchenko recorded his first NHL hat trick in a Columbus win against the Carolina Hurricanes. He became the first rookie of the 2022–23 season to score a hat-trick and the sixth in franchise history. Although he would experience a six-game scoring drought in mid-January, he scored 13 goals through his first 29 games. On 11 February 2023, Marchenko recorded his first NHL assist in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He subsequently became the third player in NHL history to have his first 13 career points be only goals. After scoring the game winning goal in overtime on 2 April 2023, Marchenko became the franchise leader in goals by a rookie with 21.On 19 December 2023, Marchenko recorded a natural hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.
On 28 July 2024, Marchenko signed a three-year, $11.55 million contract with Columbus.