He’s in the rumor mill and on trade boards, but do the Toronto Maple Leafs really want to move Matthew Knies?
The Chris Johnston Show: Chris Johnston and Julian McKenzie on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Matthew Knies trade speculation. Do the Maple Leafs really want to move Knies?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
McKenzie: “What about the idea of Knies being a trade ship in any way? As a, I mean, he’s been on your trade board before. Like, just because trade might be gone, what about the possibility of other trades happening with, involving him?
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Johnston: “I think the Leafs have to listen. You know what, what they’ve told teams, as I think I’ve mentioned on the show, is that they have one untouchable. That’s Austin Matthews.
Pretty fair to say the number one overall pick is close to untouchable, although, you know, I would think they would listen. There would be things in this league that they would trade it for if certain teams called, but I don’t think those teams are calling.
You know. But that, what that means is that I think anyone’s free to call on Matthew Knies and see if there’s a deal to be struck there. You know, he’s a pretty unique player, you know, power forward. You know, didn’t have a great year last year in a lot of respects. I know he played through some injuries, still at 60 points, I believe, and you know he signed at a pretty good cap number for the next number of seasons.
You know, to me, he’s 23 years old, but you’re not rushing to move that guy. It’s only if you think you can somehow get better. I mean, if you’re able to get a top of the rotation defenseman for him straight up. Well, then I think you have to look at it. The Leafs clearly need some improvements on their blue line, and getting number oneiish D’s is very difficult to achieve in the league.
So, you know, I, we can’t, he’s on the trade board because his name’s been in lots of trade talk, but it’s not to say the Leafs have concluded they need to trade him. I think sometimes that nuance gets lost in these sorts of discussions.
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But I really think the Leafs like the player – he’s just a real asset, he doesn’t have any trade protection. He can be traded to any other team right now, and a lot of teams out there could, could imagine liking a world with him in their lineup.
And so you know, I think the Leafs will listen, but I don’t get any impression whatsoever that they’re trying to force a Knies trade here.”
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