'It Gives Me Good Excuses Right Now': Kirill Marchenko’s Quirky Charm, No. 34 Roots And The Pressure To Deliver For The Maple Leafs

Kirill Marchenko has been a Maple Leaf for less than a week, and he is already showing off his sense of humor.

Asked Monday about Alex Ovechkin’s retirement, Marchenko also pointed out that he kind of wears a tinted visor like Ovechkin used to sport. 

“Sometimes, if I miss the pass, if I miss some good pass, I just say, ‘Guys, my visor’s tinted. I don’t see it,’” Marchenko said after practice at Ford Performance Centre. “It just gives me good excuses right now.”

As a kid in Russia he used the same stick as Ovechkin, wore the same yellow laces on his skates, and copied the style.

His equipment has changed a lot since then, but Marchenko still carries the influence of the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

“It starts with him. He starts this all stuff and we just follow him.”

What he couldn’t really follow was the No. 8 on Ovechkin’s back. Marchenko said he first heard of Auston Matthews around his draft year, then followed his career.

In the SKA system in St. Petersburg he wore 34 on the SKA junior team “kind of because of him and because of the beautiful number.”

He laughed at the logic that followed: if Matthews was scoring in that number, maybe he would too. A down year and a crowded numbering chart across SKA’s junior, VHL and KHL sides pushed him to 86, one of the few digits still available. It stuck. 

“Now I love it. Now my number.”

Marchenko has one goal and one assist in three games, the goal a power-play backhand against Ottawa on Saturday, and he is skating the heavy minutes next to the player whose number he once borrowed. He said an optional Sunday and Monday’s work have helped more than the on-ice reps alone. 

“I just more know everybody here. We meet better with everybody in the locker room, and it’s way more comfortable for me. And I just feel better and better every day.”

He and his wife are still looking for a place. He is not walking the city much. On the ice he is learning the system and the linemates at the same time. 

“We feel each other a little better.”

Head coach Jim Hiller has kept the groups together through a 1-2-0 start, and Marchenko is not lobbying either way. 

“It’s their decision, not mine. And I just happy to be part of the team and happy to be on the lines. And it’s everybody have a skill here.” He pointed at the competitive finish to practice, a white-team win in a net-front drill, and said the work ethic has to travel. 

“We need to keep this positive and this work ethic on the games, on the future games, and all will be good.”

The Maple Leafs parted with a lot of pieces, including fan favourite winger Matthew Knies to get Marchenko, who then signed a six-year, $75 million contract that kicks in next July. The pressure to deliver immediately is lower. There's only been a few practice sessions, but at least his line is doing and saying the right things right now.

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