Blue Jackets acquire Knies, Lorentz, Andrae and a 2nd-round pick from Toronto

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired left wing Matthew Knies, defenseman Emil Andrae, center Steven Lorentz, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, and left wing Miles Wood, as announced by GM Don Waddell on September 28, 2026. Knies, 23, brings 160 career points (67 goals, 93 assists) in 240 NHL games with Toronto, including consecutive 20-goal and 50-point seasons. Columbus also placed defenseman Damon Severson on the Injured Non-Roster list and loaned forward Jack Williams to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters.