Kirill Marchenko Is Quietly Becoming A Superstar Before Our Eyes

If you're a follower of the Columbus Blue Jackets, you've probably seen all the social media content that the Jackets put out that has Kirill Marchenko in it. The guy is a treasure trove of funny quotes, pictures, and videos. But on the ice, he's even more fun to watch.

Kirill Marchenko is having himself a career year. People expected him to score goals sure, but to become the two-way, play-making forward he's become was unexpected for most people in year three of his career.

Before the season started, I predicted that Marchenko would lead the team in goals with 35. Not a hard thing to predict. What I didn't expect was for him to be the challenging Zach Werenski in assists and points, and to be the best set-up man on this team.

He's on a PPG pace for the season, but he's averaging 3.38 points per 60 minutes played.

Let's take a look at Kirill Marchenko's stats:

Goals - 19 - 36th

Assists - 33 - 26th

Points - 52 - 20th

PPG - 2

PPP - 16 - 42nd

+/- +28 - 1st in the NHL

Shots - 138 - 30th

Kirill Marchenko has been a breath of fresh air since joining the club in 2022, and he's come a long way since being a healthy scratch last season under head coach Pascal Vincent.

He's now being turned loose by new HC Dean Evason, but he's not only scoring goals and setting up his teammates, he's being defensively responsible as well.

He's a selfless player who isn't afraid to pass up a sure empty netter when he knows he has Adam Fantilli coming down the ice with him with a chance to bag his first NHL hat trick in front of his family and friends.

As the kids say, "Kirill Marchenko is a national treasure," and that 3 year, $11,550,000 contract Don Waddell signed him to before the start of this season is looking like highway robbery for Waddell.

What's Next - The Blue Jackets are back home on Saturday to play the waiting LA Kings.

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