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Hypothetical returns from suitors of Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
By Jon Steitzer
Mar 23, 2026, 06:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 22, 2026, 09:55 EDT
One of the worst things to come out of the trade deadline seems to be the notion that there is a possibility that Matthew Knies might not be a Maple Leaf in 2026-27. A young power forward on a reasonable contract seems like something the Maple Leafs should value just as much as any of the teams pursuing him and if the Leafs were to trade him, Toronto would immediately become one of the teams hunting down the next power forward to come available. You shouldn’t trade Matthew Knies.
The exception would be if the Maple Leafs don’t see the 2025-26 season as a setback and instead see it as something terminal. If Toronto is going to be heading into a deep rebuild, cashing out on Knies is unfortunate but perhaps necessary.
Whatever the logic behind it, Knies’ name did come up and seemingly a lot at the deadline according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:
Teams that showed serious interest in Matthew Knies included Anaheim, Chicago, Montreal, New Jersey and Utah. Everyone has denied that the Canadiens went far down the road, but … we’ll see. There were some teams who didn’t believe the Maple Leafs were serious about it, but now recognize the possibility.
Given that it seems trading Knies is a possibility, it seems worth taking a look at what the suitors would have to offer the Maple Leafs for Knies. Are there options that allow the Maple Leafs to not take such a big step back by shedding one of their top players or is it strictly a matter of grabbing as many futures as possible and embracing the idea that Knies might just be the first of many high profile Leafs on their way out.
Anaheim Ducks
Both alphabetically and by what they have to offer, the Anaheim Ducks are at the top of the list of intriguing Knies landing spots. This is almost entirely focused around the fantasy that Mason McTavish could be the potential return.
A recent healthy scratch make him seem available and the fact that if he gets on track in Toronto he’d be the ideal centre to follow Auston Matthews in the Leafs lineup and capable of pushing Tavares to the third line or the wing, McTavish is a target worth talking about.
There are obviously risks associated with going with someone who has been struggling to point of being scratched, but age and contracts line up nicely, and the lower production from McTavish is offset by the fact that he plays centre.
If McTavish is in play, the Leafs wouldn’t be wrong for seeing if there is a fit.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks being an option means looking more at futures than roster players. It’s unlikely that Blackhawks pick in the top five is in play, but as the owners of the Panthers pick, they could offer up an 11th overall (the pick is top ten protected). Depending on how the draft unfolds and who is left on the board at 11, maybe the Maple Leafs consider it but that is a definite change in philosophy from retool towards rebuild.
Beyond that, a player like Frank Nazar or Sam Rinzel are interesting but that seems like an odd choice from the Blackhawks perspective to move on from either one, and both players would require something added to them for the Maple Leafs to see value in making a deal.
Montreal Canadiens
Young centres like Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook would be interesting conversation starters and give the Maple Leafs someone they could use now. If the Canadiens added enough for Toronto to give up a sure thing in Knies to take a chance on older centres with lower outputs and serious injuries in 2025-26, maybe you explore it.
Given the amount of talk about the Canadiens being furthest down the path with the Maple Leafs on Knies, there must be someone Toronto is looking at here. Michael Hage is an interesting prospect to consider or the Leafs could be trying to pry someone off the Habs’ blueline.
New Jersey Devils
Simon Nemec possibly being available was another surprise addition to the trade deadline rumour mill and if there if there is a simple one for one approach that exists between this two teams it would likely involve Nemec, although the Maple Leafs would probably want to know a bit about Simon’s contract demands first.
A promising right shot defenceman is a hard thing to pass up even if it creates a more pressing need for the Maple Leafs up front.
Utah Mammoth
Reuniting Matthew Knies with Logan Cooley makes a ton of sense from the Mammoth perspective but I don’t think it’s hard to make a case for Knies on any of the 32 teams around the league.
Things get muddied when you look at what Utah can offer back. Their first round pick will likely fall in the late teens and while that can certainly be one piece of a deal for Knies, Toronto would need more. The more is the interest part and for those of us built on name recognition and nostalgia, Tij Iginla is an exciting prospect to daydream about.
Far more likely, the Mammoth first round pick plus a roster player might be what happens and players like Lawson Crouse, Barrett Hayton or Jack McBain might be supplementary additions to futures.
Going through the thought exercise of considering who might be a fit in Knies trade, the idea of the Leafs moving on doesn’t seem as terrifying as it did when Nick Kypreos first floated the idea. The Maple Leafs are still likely a better team with Knies in the lineup but depending on how deep the cuts will be into the roster and across the organization for the Maple Leafs this summer, it seems like being prepared for anything is a reasonable approach.
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