Kirill Marchenko was granted his wish.
Just before opening day, the Columbus Blue Jackets traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs after the Russian forward made clear he was unhappy with the Metropolitan Division club.
Former Blue Jackets teammate Adam Fantilli said Tuesday — ahead of the team's first meeting with the Maple Leafs (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT) — that he's glad the Marchenko saga was nipped in the bud.
"Happy we got guys who want to be here. It would have been a nightmare having a guy that didn’t want to be here all year. I’m glad we got that trade done when we did," Fantilli said.
The comment is especially poignant given the pair of unresolved trade requests that still linger in the NHL.
Connor Hellebuyck's unpaid suspension with the Winnipeg Jets is set to end Friday, putting both sides in a potentially awkward position where they may have to reunite.
"I think if he does show up there’s going to have to be conversations, there’s going to have to be kind of one of those water under the bridge things. Like I said, we keep moving forward, we’re a team regardless of who’s in the room," Jets captain Adam Lowry said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dylan Larkin has continued to play for the Detroit Red Wings despite having his captaincy stripped amid a standing trade request.
Larkin has three points in six games as the Red Wings sit last in the Atlantic Division at 3-3-2.
The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, haven't fared much better, entering Tuesday's contest against the Maple Leafs at 3-4-0 and last in the Metropolitan.
