Did the Canadiens come close to acquiring Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies? What’s the latest on Blues center Robert Thomas? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CANADIENS RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN MATTHEW KNIES
SPORTSNET: Nick Kypreos believes the failed deal that the Montreal Canadiens attempted to make before Friday’s trade deadline was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kypreos also believes the Canadiens were trying to acquire Matthew Knies, claiming the 23-year-old Maple Leafs winger drew interest from several teams in the trade market.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthews Knies (NHL Images).
Aside from Auston Matthews and William Nylander, Knies is the only player who could provide the Maple Leafs with a return of top-tier talent.
Kypreos stressed that he’s not confirming that it was Knies the Canadiens were after, but that’s the speculation that’s out there.
Luke Fox pointed out that Elliotte Friedman raised the possibility before the trade deadline that the Maple Leafs floated Knies’ name in the trade market. Fox noted that the big Leafs winger was surprised that he popped up in trade rumors, but didn’t look into it too much.
Fox observed that Knies is the only member of the Maple Leafs core who lacks no-trade protection. He also noted that the Carolina Hurricanes asked for Knies at the 2025 trade deadline when the Leafs were trying to acquire Mikko Rantanen. Still, general manager Brad Treliving refused to part with him.
However, the Maple Leafs need to bolster their roster to stage a bounce-back performance next season. No one player should be considered off-limits if a move can be made this summer to improve their roster.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont noted that Kypreos spoke of the Canadiens’ deep prospect pool. Knies going to Montreal could fetch a return to the Leafs that restocks their depleted prospect cupboard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was originally believed that the Canadiens were pursuing St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. Going after Knies makes more sense as it could give them a right winger to play alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the top line, or on the second line at his natural left-wing position with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.
Knies to Montreal would certainly qualify as a blockbuster. The return to the Maple Leafs could’ve been a first-round pick, a prospect, and a young player, or a couple of prospects and a young player.
For now, this is an unsubstantiated rumor because Kypreos can’t say for certain that Knies was the Canadiens’ target. Nevertheless, it’ll stoke speculation about the Habs’ offseason plans. Whether it involves revisiting that mysterious significant trade they tried to make at the deadline.
ROBERT THOMAS WAS NEVER ASKED TO WAIVE HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE
DAILY FACEOFF: Robert Thomas told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that the St. Louis Blues never approached him about waiving his no-trade clause. He said that everything he heard came from media insiders and online.
“I just want to be clear: I was never asked, and nor did I ever ask for a trade,” Thomas said.
The 26-year-old Blues center has a full no-trade clause. His contract runs through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million.
Thomas admitted that it’s been frustrating that the Blues aren’t where they thought they’d be this season. However, he insisted that he remains committed to the club and loves living in St. Louis.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported the depth of the trade conversations about Thomas leading up to last Friday’s deadline suggests those talks will resume during the offseason.
LeBrun speculated the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth could revisit their interest in Thomas. He also raised the possibility of the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, or Los Angeles Kings getting involved.
The Blues reportedly set a high asking price for Thomas. Whether that softens during the offseason remains to be seen. Nevertheless, LeBrun thinks Thomas most likely gets traded this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: For all the rumors about Thomas, his comments indicate that the discussions never reached the point where Blues management would ask him to waive his no-trade clause.
That could change during the summer, but that doesn’t mean Thomas will agree to it.
Remember, the Blues had a deal in place that would have sent Colton Parayko to the Buffalo Sabres, but the defenseman nixed the trade by refusing to waive his clause.
Thomas could do the same, but that won’t stop the conjecture about his future in St. Louis.