When trying to predict what will happen in the NHL, I like to do two things. Ask myself what humans generally desire to do and/or what I would do. Then I try to look at the character and background of the person involved based on whatever background I can find and ask what they would do. So let's look at Marchenko from that perspective.

What I would do. Will have to fill in some gaps here.

Being mostly human, I tend to desire generally what most humans do.

Why would I say through my agent, and have it publicly leaked, that I am not resigning in Columbus as is the case with Marchenko?

1) Columbus has not had a track record of success in its history and seems to have problems attracting players to play there. Without saying the reason why maybe you all can help me in the comments with those reasons.

2) For the same reasons that Columbus has a difficult tome attracting players I am also not attracted to staying there.

3) Being that I have contract coming up I would set my price to stay there high enough that they may get the point that I am not interested in staying there.

4) By making it public that I will not be signing I am now probably accelerating the process of moving on as it would bring unwanted media attention and get phones ringing even more. 

5) Making it well known also decreases the leverage for Columbus as now everyone knows that where things stand and the move is inevitable. This aids in making the return less for Columbus and in which case makes for a stronger team of which I would be going to.

6) I would talk to my family about preferred destinations they would desire to live in that match my professional goals and would make it clear through my agents that that/those teams are the teams I would be willing to sign long term with. This would also create less leverage for Columbus I would be a rental to all other teams and my desired destination teams would only have to compete against a rental valued compensation.

7) My agent strongly voices my displeasure of going to any other destination than desired teams when contacted or hearing of such possibility.

What would Marchenko do? A much tougher projection of course.

There are a few things flying in the ether right now that point to Montreal and Marchenko having a friendship with Demidov. This makes a ton of sense as I have also heard that Marchenko and Demidov are friends. Russians seem to enjoy the European feel of Montreal as well, Not sure about what his concern about taxes would be but location and relationship wise I could definitely see this.