Montreal Canadiens pursue Kirill Marchenko amid active free agency period

On July 1, the Montreal Canadiens were quiet during the first day of NHL Free Agency, as rivals Toronto Maple Leafs and others made several notable roster moves. With an eye on improving, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes sealed an eight-year, $73 million contract with Ivan Demidov. Fans expressed concerns over the team's lack of engagement in acquiring Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marchenko's agent dismissed a fan's proposal for the player’s move to Montreal but drew attention to ongoing interest from the Canadiens and other teams. The organization retains assets for a potential acquisition if Marchenko is deemed a necessary upgrade.

• 4:28 PMYahoo Sports — Kirill Marchenko’s Agent Laughs Off Montreal Canadiens Fan’s Desperate Proposal