Kirill Marchenko’s adjustment period with the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a whirlwind, but as he completes his first full week in Toronto, the newest forward is already finding his stride. Since arriving in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets this past Monday, Marchenko has been thrust immediately into the lineup, navigating a back-to-back schedule without the benefit of a single practice.
That changed on Friday, as the 26-year-old finally hit the ice for a full session with his new teammates. During the practice, Marchenko remained slotted on the left wing alongside superstar Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic—a position that has drawn intrigue given his history as a right-wing specialist throughout his NHL career.
While some analysts have questioned his comfort level playing his “off-wing,” Marchenko was quick to put those concerns to rest. In fact, he revealed that the left side is essentially his natural habitat.
“I am from Russia, guys. In Russia, I grew up as a left winger until I was 22,” Marchenko said following the morning skate. “It’s kind of my side, actually, for my whole life. Only in the NHL did I start to play on the right.”
His sentiment aligns with a well-known trend in professional hockey, where many of the league’s most elite Russian scorers—including Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, and Alexander Ovechkin—have thrived while playing the off-wing. Marchenko noted that his three seasons with St. Petersburg in the KHL provided the foundation for his comfort on the left, though he remains unfazed by wherever the coaching staff decides to place him.
“It’s a little different sometimes, but the game right now is so fast, and there are a lot of changes,” he added. “Sometimes I’m in the middle, sometimes I’m on the right. It doesn’t matter to me; I’m just happy to play.”
While Marchenko feels at home on the left wing, he admitted that his role on Toronto’s top power-play unit is a genuine departure from his usual responsibilities. Head coach Jim Hiller has tasked him with manning the “bumper” position—the high-slot area—flanked by William Nylander and Matthews, with John Tavares providing a net-front presence and Darren Raddysh quarterbacking from the point.
“It’s a new experience for me because usually I play on the wing,” Marchenko said. “But we have a lot of skill there, and the guys are helping me find ways to score. If we are putting goals in the net, I don’t care where I need to play.”
Having registered an assist in his debut on Tuesday, Marchenko is now hunting for his first goal in a Maple Leafs sweater. He will get his next opportunity to make an impact on Saturday night when the Leafs face the Ottawa Senators.
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