The Toronto Maple Leafs have once again missed out on acquiring Mason Marchment, as the veteran forward was traded from the Seattle Kraken to the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 19, 2025. The Blue Jackets sent a 2026 fourth-round pick (originally from the New York Rangers) and a 2027 second-round pick to Seattle in exchange for the Uxbridge, Ontario native.
This marks another instance where Marchment, who briefly played for the Leafs earlier in his career, has eluded a potential return to Toronto. Marchment initially signed a free-agent contract with Toronto and played a handful of games with the team during the 2019-20 season before being traded to the Florida Panthers.
Marchment, now 30 years old, is in the final year of a four-year, $18 million contract he signed with the Dallas Stars in 2022, carrying an average annual value of $4.5 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. This season with the Kraken, Marchment recorded 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points in 29 games.
Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, "Mason is a player I know very well, and I think he will add a great deal to our team. He is a physical, hard-nosed competitor with proven offensive ability and we are very excited to have him join the Blue Jackets". Waddell's familiarity with Marchment likely played a significant role in Columbus's decision to acquire him.
Marchment brings a physical presence to the Blue Jackets' lineup, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 215 pounds. Throughout his NHL career, he has amassed 80 goals, 122 assists, 202 points, and 284 penalty minutes in 331 games played with the Maple Leafs, Panthers, Stars, and Kraken. He is also a two-time 20-goal scorer.
The trade occurred just before the NHL's holiday roster freeze, which went into effect on December 21 and lasts through December 27. For the Kraken, this trade provides them with additional draft capital and cap space as they navigate a disappointing season. Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill stated, "This trade gives us more draft capital and flexibility as we look to improve our team moving forward".
The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, hope that Marchment can provide a boost to their roster as they aim to climb the Eastern Conference standings. As of the trade, Columbus was at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, but only six points away from a Wild Card spot.
Marchment's journey to the NHL wasn't typical, as he was an undrafted player who signed with the Maple Leafs organization. He made his NHL debut with Toronto in the 2019-20 season. He also won the Calder Cup in 2018 with the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate. Prior to being traded to Seattle, Marchment spent three seasons with the Dallas Stars, tallying 56 goals, 75 assists, 131 points, 187 penalty minutes, and 275 hits in 211 games.
