Matthew Knies was minutes away from being a member of the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, and the current Toronto Maple Leafs forward could still be getting a change of scenery this summer.
TSN insider Darren Dreger reported on Wednesday that multiple executives around the league believe Knies could ultimately be moved this offseason.
“Depending on who you talk to, there are a number NHL executives out there who believe that Matthew Knies will be traded,” Dreger said during a recent appearance on TSN’s That’s Hockey with Gino Reda.
“I don’t think you’re going to get anything as definitive as that from the Maple Leafs at this point, but John Chayka is definitely doing his due diligence, as are other clubs, finding out why Matthew Knies would be available for trade.”
Dreger continued to say that Knies is trying to slim down to become less injury-prone, although he has missed just nine regular-season games over the last three campaigns.
“From a Toronto standpoint, you’re just fetching for whatever the best return can be, I know that Matthew Knies is working hard during this offseason, he’s trying to trim down,” Dreger added.
“He was in the mid 230s, that was his playing weight. He’s a big power forward, but I think he believes he can be a little quicker if he gets into the 220s and maybe less injury prone, but again, there’s belief that the Leafs are at least willing to trade Matthew Knies, the conversations are ongoing with multiple teams with considerable interest.”
Knies has improved offensively in each of his three NHL seasons, recording 35 points in 2023-24, 58 points in 2024-25 and 66 points in 79 games last season, along with 152 hits.
It would likely take a substantial package for Toronto to move Knies, with both Dreger and fellow insider Nick Kypreos indicating that any return would need to include a top-pairing defenseman along with additional assets.
Knies has developed into one of Toronto’s most valuable young players, meaning the organization will not move him without receiving a strong return. Whether another team is willing to meet that asking price could determine if one of the NHL’s biggest offseason rumors becomes reality.
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