The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season has fallen apart, and that’s led to some uncomfortable questions nobody thought would need to be asked or even considered coming into the year.
Trading Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche was the start of a sell-off, and while it won’t go as deep as involving superstars Auston Matthews and William Nylander or veteran John Tavares, that’s about all that’s off-limits right now. Even young star Matthew Knies’ name has started to come up.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman shared the latest rumblings from around the NHL on Thursday, which included a section on the Maple Leafs where he mentioned he has heard some talk around Knies, though it would take a lot to pry him out of Toronto.
“The chances of Auston Matthews getting traded now are equal to John Blutarsky’s grade-point average. William Nylander and John Tavares aren’t going anywhere. I heard some Matthew Knies, and that, to me, is the Maple Leafs seeing if there’s a massive offer they can’t turn down. That is the only way I see it happening,”
The 23-year-old Knies is in just the first year of the six-year, $46.5 million extension signed with the Maple Leafs this summer. He’s had an up-and-down 2025-26 season, though has still produced 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) across 59 games.
As Friedman refers to, Knies getting traded would require a legitimate star coming back to the Maple Leafs in return. While it still feels rather unlikely, the fact that it’s even a possibility seven months after extending him long-term is eye-opening.
There has been chatter about Robert Thomas, whom fellow insider David Pagnotta has connected the Maple Leafs to, and that’s the exact type of player you have to think GM Brad Treliving would be seeking in such a deal.
Much like the entire team, Knies has had an underwhelming season. That being said, he’s still just scratching the surface of the star power forward he projects to be, so Treliving and company will have to be careful not to trade him just for the sake of doing something bold.
Next: Maple Leafs Insider Hints at Auston Matthews’ Looming Decision
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