When Kevin Weekes announced to the world that Kirill Marchenko wouldn't be extending in Columbus [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets], it caught everyone, including GM Don Waddell, off guard. This news came just after the Zach Werenski drama began, and many thought Marchenko's issue stemmed from Werenski's apparent non-committal stance. To this day, no one knows what is happening because his agent, Dan Milstein, refuses to answer questions from the media and instead chooses to do a bit of trolling. The trolling is fine and expected, but when an entire fanbase is watching it, it's not fun. Montreal fans seem to love it, though. Don Waddell has said that he will be in uniform and on the ice for camp and this season. He's said that he won't trade Marchenko just to trade him, and that his team needs to get better if he is traded. He won't be traded for futures and castaways, and instead will cost the other team someone they don't want to trade. You want a scorer like Marchenko? It's going to cost you! Somehow, though, the Marchenko drama has been overshadowed by the Werenski stuff, and most recently, the Adam Fantilli contract stall. But why have he and his camp been so silent, and why is he getting a pass? Is he getting a free pass because he's the fun-loving goofball? At some point, someone in his camp will need to answer some questions. Surely Don Waddell is talking with Milstein about all this. Many national media claim that a trade is imminent, but is it really? The optics make it look like he's getting a pass because he's a fan favorite. When the Werenski issue came up, fans were talking about booing him and turning in their jerseys. But once he came out and said he was committed to the Blue Jackets, all was good. But Marchenko hasn't spoken at all, and yet fans and media seem to be treating him differently. Is this the case? Montreal fans seem very confident that he'll end up in Canada, so they're doing everything in their power to manifest it. So, what do you think? Is Marchenko getting a free pass on this situation?
