In a thrilling overtime victory against the Ottawa Senators, 22-year-old winger Kirill Marchenko etched his name in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ history books. Scoring the game-winning goal, Marchenko set a new franchise record for the most goals scored by a rookie, with a tally of 21 goals in just 53 games this season.
Selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Blue Jackets, Marchenko has rapidly ascended through the ranks to become a formidable offensive force on the team. Before joining the Blue Jackets, he showcased his skills in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Cleveland Monsters, where he accumulated 8 goals and 11 assists for a total of 19 points in only 16 games.
Prior to his North American hockey journey, Marchenko honed his skills in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with St. Petersburg. In 39 games, he netted 12 goals and provided 8 assists.
Marchenko’s meteoric rise from a second-round pick to a record-breaking rookie has been a breath of fresh air for the Blue Jackets organization and their fans in a rough year that sees them sitting near the bottom of the league, despite acquiring star forward Johnny Gaudreau in the summer.
