Mason Marchment Traded: Blue Jackets Acquire Veteran Winger from Kraken Ahead of NHL Holiday Freeze

Mason Marchment Heads to Columbus in Pre-Holiday NHL Trade

• Seattle Kraken traded Mason Marchment to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 2027 second-round and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, just before the NHL’s holiday trade freeze. (Seattle Times, NHL.com)
• Marchment, 30, is in the final year of a four-year, $18 million contract and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. (ESPN, NHL.com)
• Both teams are struggling this season, sitting at the bottom of their respective conferences. (News4Jax)

In a move that signals shifting priorities for two teams searching for answers, the Seattle Kraken have traded veteran winger Mason Marchment to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The deal, finalized late Friday night, came just moments before the NHL’s annual holiday roster freeze, a period when teams are barred from making trades for a week. The timing is no accident—both franchises, languishing near the bottom of their divisions, are eager for change and fresh momentum as the season’s midpoint approaches.

Why Did the Kraken Trade Marchment?

For the Kraken, Marchment was supposed to be a big piece of the puzzle. Acquired in June for a third- and fourth-round pick from the Dallas Stars, he arrived as new GM Jason Botterill’s headline offseason move. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Marchment brought size, grit, and a history of scoring—he posted back-to-back 20-goal seasons with Dallas and was expected to help Seattle build on last year’s playoff run.

Yet reality rarely matches the script. Marchment never quite found his stride in Seattle, tallying just 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) over 29 games and accumulating 26 penalty minutes. The team’s offense sputtered, and Marchment struggled to replicate the impact he’d had with the Stars. After a strong debut—scoring in his very first game against the Anaheim Ducks—he faded, with only sporadic bursts of production, like a two-goal outing against the Utah Mammoth. His pace suggested he’d fall short of his previous years’ totals.

Rumors swirled that he might be dealt, especially with veteran Jaden Schwartz sidelined by injury. But as the Kraken’s playoff hopes dimmed, management opted to pull the trigger now rather than wait. With only one win in their last 11 games and a slide down the standings, the team needed flexibility and draft capital more than a veteran forward in his contract year.

“I’d like to thank Mason for his contributions to our club, and we wish him and his family all the best in Columbus,” Botterill said in a team statement. The draft picks received—second-round in 2027, fourth-round in 2026—essentially recoup what Seattle paid to get him, allowing the Kraken to hit reset without major losses.

What Does Marchment Bring to Columbus?

For the Blue Jackets, the trade is about adding veteran toughness and offensive potential. Columbus GM Don Waddell, familiar with Marchment’s game from his days running the Carolina Hurricanes, was quick to praise the acquisition: “He is a physical, hard-nosed competitor with proven offensive ability and we are very excited to have him join the Blue Jackets.”

Marchment’s career numbers—80 goals, 202 points, and 284 penalty minutes in 331 games—reflect a player who can contribute at both ends of the ice. He’s undrafted, which speaks to his perseverance, breaking into the NHL at age 24 with the Toronto Maple Leafs before stints in Florida and Dallas. He’s now onto his fifth NHL franchise, a testament to his adaptability and the value teams see in his mix of skill and grit.

Columbus, too, is in the midst of a tough season. Last in the Eastern Conference, they’re four points ahead of Seattle but still six points out of the final wild-card spot. The hope is that Marchment’s physicality and playoff experience can help stabilize a roster that’s struggled to score consistently—currently 21st in the league offensively.

There’s also the looming question of Marchment’s future. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and Columbus will need to decide whether he’s a short-term rental or a piece for the future. For now, the focus is on immediate impact, as the Jackets try to climb out of the basement over their final 48 games.

The Context: Trade Freeze and Roster Moves

The trade’s timing is noteworthy. The NHL’s holiday roster freeze kicks in at midnight on December 20 and lasts through December 27, locking teams into their current lineups for a week. By finalizing the deal just before the deadline, both teams ensured they could make immediate adjustments without waiting.

The Kraken, meanwhile, also free up salary cap space, shedding Marchment’s $4.5 million cap hit in the final year of his deal. This could open doors for other roster moves as the team looks to retool. Marchment’s replacement in Seattle’s lineup is expected to be Ryan Winterton, a young forward who’s been scratched recently.

For Columbus, the addition comes as forward Brendan Gaunce was designated non-roster due to personal reasons, creating a vacancy up front. Marchment’s arrival is a chance for a fresh start—for himself and for a team hungry for any spark.

Looking Forward: What Does This Mean for Both Teams?

Will the trade pay off? That’s a question neither side can answer yet. Seattle’s slide has been abrupt—they were in a playoff spot at Thanksgiving, but a string of regulation losses has left them tied for last in the West. Columbus, on the other hand, remains in the hunt, albeit on the fringes.

Both teams are betting that change—whether in personnel, strategy, or simply attitude—can break the cycle of losing. For Marchment, it’s a chance to prove his worth once more, to show that his physical style and scoring touch can make a difference for a team in need.

In the chessboard of NHL roster moves, Mason Marchment’s trade is less about a blockbuster shift and more about strategic adjustment—a retrieval of assets for Seattle, an injection of veteran presence for Columbus. The final verdict will hinge on what each team does with the opportunity: Will Marchment rediscover his scoring form in a new jersey, or will both clubs find themselves revisiting these choices come summer? For now, the trade is a calculated gamble rooted in necessity—and the restless hope for a turnaround before it’s too late.