After making history as a rookie, Marchenko wants even more

Kirill Marchenko set a Blue Jackets rookie record with 21 goals this past season, cementing himself as a key piece Columbus can build around for years to come.

And yet, Marchenko wasn't happy.

OK, let's say that differently. Marchenko was always happy, spreading much-needed joy with his ever-present smile and joking personality throughout the locker room during what was a trying season for the Blue Jackets.

But when it came to production, while most people would have been pleased with a CBJ record and the third-most tallies for any rookie in the NHL this season, Marchenko simply wanted more.

"I need to score not 21, but 35, 45," he said in a late-season interview.

Here, a reporter told Marchenko that not many players are lucky enough -- or good enough -- to score 21 goals during their rookie season in the NHL.

"I know," he replied. "But how many goals did Ovechkin score in the first year? More than 50."

OK, fair, but that's Alexander Ovechkin, a No. 1 overall pick who is on pace to set the NHL's all-time scoring record in a few seasons. Not to mention your idol, Kirill. That's a pretty hard standard to meet.

"I know," Marchenko said. "But he is the best player. My goal, it's why I play hockey, is to be the best of the best. If I don't try, why play hockey?"

That's the motivation for Marchenko, whose easy smile and lighthearted interviews belie a player who has the drive to make it to the top. It's why he stays on the ice for around half an hour after each practice and gameday skate to get some extra work in, not to mention taking the ice for optional and even off-day work.

Anything to add to his game and help him become a better player, and now that he has a year of North American hockey under his belt, he thinks he can keep adding to his game with a full offseason to prepare.

"Next summer is really hard," he said. "It's more work. I try to think about in my head, in my brain, how I was better, what to do on the ice, more drills on the ice for me. I was thinking of how I can do better. But I know. It's important."

The thought of a Marchenko who's even better next season should get Blue Jackets fans salivating, as his rookie campaign in Columbus wasn't like anything we had seen before. After starting with 16 games in Cleveland to get used to the pace of the North American game, he arrived in early December and became a lineup mainstay.

After three games without a point to begin his career, Marchenko notched five goals in the next nine games, then became the sixth rookie in CBJ history to post a hat trick, doing so in his 15th game vs. Carolina. By the time the season was done, the 22-year-old had topped Pierre-Luc Dubois' CBJ rookie record of 20 goals set in 2017-18 and tied Jaroslav Balastik's mark of seven power-play goals in a rookie campaign.

"The record is good for me because it's history in Columbus," he said. "But it's not 40 goals in a season. I'm the first guy to keep working because I want to break more records in the future."

It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see that happen, as his skill matches his work ethic. Marchenko has always been a goal scorer, including 27 in 80 games the past two seasons in the KHL, and he tallied eight times in 16 games with Cleveland before his call-up to the big leagues.

For players who have been in the NHL a long time, Marchenko's ability to fill up the net is notable.

"Obviously he played really well, and it was fun to see a guy coming in and score the way he did," said Patrik Laine, who had 36 goals of his own in his rookie season. "I think his potential is really high, and he just has to keep working at it."

What made Marchenko's season most unique, though, was he finished with just four assists, making him the second player in the NHL's modern era to finish a campaign with at least 20 goals and as few as four helpers. Previously, Florida's Brandon Pirri posted an incredible 22-2-24 stat line during the 2014-15 season.

Marchenko had 17 more goals than assists, a total that has been surpassed by only Rick Nash (41 goals, 16 assists, 2003-04) in Blue Jackets history. Marchenko also became the only CBJ player in team history to score at least 15 times in a season with less than 10 assists.

While Marchenko has made no bones about the fact he loves to put the puck in the net, something that can be attributed to an excellent shot but also the fact he's not afraid to use it with an average of 4.3 shot attempts per game, his personality allowed for the fact that he was still embraced by his teammates.

The Barnaul, Russia, native joked that he should be referred to as a "playmaker" after breaking a 29-game streak without an assist to begin his NHL career, the sort of playfulness that made him popular among fellow Jackets.

"He's an awesome kid," Gaudreau said. "I love Marchy. He has a great sense of humor. Great teammate, awesome player. He has a great shot, but it's just his energy. He's always happy, always walking into the rink with a smile. That's contagious, even when you're having a tough year, team-wise."

While Marchenko was a breath of fresh air on and off the ice this season for the Blue Jackets, there's still plenty more to come. A second-round draft pick in 2018, now that he's in the NHL, he should be a building blocks for years to come. He spoke highly throughout the season of his time in Columbus, and Marchenko says finally making an impact at the NHL level has been something he's wanted for a long time.

"Of course, it's my dream," he said. "I think everyone who plays hockey, it's their dream to play in the NHL. I am really happy. Every time, I smile because I am in the NHL now. It's a really great time and I enjoy it."