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The Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled to start the 2026-27 season, winning just three of eight games and sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference in the early going.
And while Kirill Marchenko has thrived with the Maple Leafs, recording 11 points in 11 games in Toronto, Matthew Knies has managed just four points in eight contests in Ohio.
Although they’ve played fewer games than every other team in the East, there is already concern about how competitive this Jackets team can be in 2026-27.
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Marchenko might not be the only Russian getting shipped out, as Dmitri Voronkov has had a tough start to his season. The 26-year-old has chipped in just two assists in six games, and The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun provided an update on Thursday morning.
“Some teams calling with interest on winger Dmitri Voronkov,” the hockey insider reported. “Not saying he will be traded for sure but CBJ listening.”
Voronkov was a healthy scratch for consecutive games, watching from the press box during a 1-0 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday and a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild the following day.
He recorded an assist in his return to the lineup — Tuesday’s 6-2 drubbing at the hands of the Leafs — but played just 10 minutes.
The consecutive scratches and limited ice time suggest he’s struggled to earn a consistent role under head coach Rick Bowness, who has expressed frustration with his club’s early performance.
Voronkov took a step back offensively last season, finishing with 17 goals and 32 points in 63 games while averaging nearly 14 minutes of ice time per contest. That followed a productive 2024-25 campaign in which he recorded 47 points in 73 games.
A change of scenery could make sense for both player and club, especially if he can’t rediscover that form in Columbus. For now, though, LeBrun’s report indicates the Jackets are listening rather than committing to a move.
There’s still plenty of time to turn things around — for both the Blue Jackets and Voronkov — but this start hasn’t helped their quest to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.
Columbus returns to action against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights at Nationwide Arena on Saturday night.
Related: Blue Jackets’ Rick Bowness drops unreal reaction to blowout Maple Leafs loss