The Toronto Maple Leafs have already been among the NHL’s most active teams this offseason, making a blockbuster goalie-centered trade with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week before following it up by acquiring defenseman Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade on Friday.
Despite the flurry of roster activity, forward Matthew Knies appears unlikely to be part of any future moves, at least this summer.
Trade speculation surrounding Knies intensified earlier this week after TSN insider Darren Dreger reported that multiple NHL executives believed the Maple Leafs were at least open to discussing the young winger.
However, general manager John Chayka pushed back on that notion during his latest media availability.
“Maple Leafs GM John Chayka says he’s going to evaluate everything when it comes to trade speculation, but says it’s ‘not probable’ when it comes to trading a young, core player such as Matthew Knies,” Leafs reporter Arun Srinivasan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Knies is completely untouchable, but it does suggest Toronto is not actively looking to move one of its most valuable young players.
The 23-year-old is coming off the best season of his NHL career, recording 66 points in 79 games while adding 152 hits and continuing to establish himself as a legitimate power forward. Since arriving in Toronto, Knies has improved offensively every season, going from 35 points in 2023-24 to 58 in 2024-25 before setting career highs across the board this season.
His name has surfaced in trade rumors before. Knies was reportedly part of a deal that would have sent him to the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the trade deadline in March, but the transaction was voided after it was submitted too late.
With Raddysh now signed long-term and Toronto continuing to reshape its roster, the organization’s offseason plan is beginning to take shape. The Leafs are also expected to select Penn State star Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s NHL Draft, giving the franchise another cornerstone offensive piece.
For a team looking to rebound after missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, moving Knies would be a difficult decision. Chayka’s comments suggest Toronto understands that reality, even if rival teams continue to call.
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