BROSSARD, Que. — On Friday night, the Montreal Canadiens traded for a six-foot-three Russian right winger.

It just wasn’t the one everyone was speculating about.

No, Kirill Marchenko remains in Columbus, where Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell was busy telling reporters that it was “news to him” that Marchenko’s team had notified ESPN and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes in the middle of the first round of the NHL Draft that the player wasn’t interested in extending his contract with them beyond its current term.

Marchenko’s first opportunity to do so comes July 1, with the 25-year-old’s deal (worth $3.85 million per season) set to expire in one year and leave him as a restricted free agent. The report he would not take advantage of it did little to quell speculation he could be traded.

Rumours were rampant he could move to the Canadiens heading into the first round of the draft, and league sources confirmed to Sportsnet on Friday afternoon the team had taken “a hard run at Marchenko” and “was hot after him.”

But the deal the Canadiens ultimately consummated during Round 1 was the one general manager Kent Hughes swung for Gleb Pugachyov — a pugnacious power forward taken 26th overall after Pick 28 and a 2027 third-rounder were shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights to put the Canadiens in that position at the draft.

“It’s clear we had classed him higher than where we were going to pick,” said Hughes. “We tried to move up several times tonight, and we were able to move up two spots and still get the player we wanted. He’s definitely........

© Sportsnet