Part of the chatter surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs at this year’s NHL trade deadline was the possibility of trading Matthew Knies. While there was plenty of buzz regarding the 23-year-old’s availability, the organization ultimately balked at pulling the trigger.
That said, the story caught even more momentum when rumors suggested that a massive trade was in place with the Montreal Canadiens. However, the Canadiens weren’t the only team believed to be in on Knies.
New reports have surfaced, linking the Maple Leafs’ former second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Draft to a surprising team.
That team in question is the Chicago Blackhawks. According to insider Frank Servalli, the Hawks were looking to bring in the rugged scoring forward.
What’s surprising about the Blackhawks is that they are a rebuilding club. The organization has shied away from bringing in big-ticket free agents or making significant splashes on the trade market. The club has focused on developing its internal talent in order to build a consistent contender.
However, this season wasn’t kind to the Blackhawks. They were in the hunt for a while before the season ended up going off the rails. As such, it made sense for the Hawks to target the Maple Leafs’ forward. That’s what another insider, Elliotte Friedman, expounded on.
“They’ve looked [for a Connor Bedard linemate]; two summers ago, they tried to get Jake Guentzel; I heard they were around some things at the deadline this year.”
It seems that “something” could have been Knies.
Blackhawks Could Circle Back to Knies in Offseason
Let’s assume for a minute that Knies was in fact on the Blackhawks’ radar. Considering what Friedman pointed out, that the club is looking for a linemate to play with Bedard, they might just circle back to Knies.
That situation, of course, would be no easy task. Circling back to Knies this time around could involve a higher price tag than at the trade deadline.
The rationale could be that the Maple Leafs are now open to the idea of retooling/rebuilding. As such, Toronto would be looking to maximize its return even further. So, the price tag would be higher.
Plus, there’s no telling how much the incoming GM would want to twist the arms of interesting parties looking to land a player like Knies.
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What Could Maple Leafs Realistically Get for Knies?
The biggest question is not what the Maple Leafs could ask for Knies. Instead, the question is what the club could realistically get for one of its best players.
The answer depends on how desperate the other party is. It’s tough to fathom a team like the Blackhawks surrendering the equivalent of three first-round picks for Knies.
While Chicago has the picks and prospects to make something happen, it’s unclear if they would be willing to part with the requisite pieces for Knies.
That situation would ultimately depend on whether the Blackhawks see Knies as a core piece or not. If they do, they could be willing to pay whatever the Maple Leafs want for Knies.
Otherwise, the Maple Leafs might be willing to wait a bit longer. A team might become truly desperate if they lose a key player to a long-term injury. However, waiting that long would push a potential trade until the fall.
The first major deadline to consider is the 2026 NHL Draft. If there’s a team truly interested in Knies, they may want to get a deal across the line ahead of the draft.
Maple Leafs Rumors: Knies Linked to Surprising Rebuilding Team