Former Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] general manager Brad Treliving made three trades ahead of this year's deadline, but it's been reported that there was another that didn't get off the ground. Toronto moved Nicolas Roy [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/why-the-maple-leafs-traded-nicolas-roy-to-the-avalanche-and-what-they-are-getting-in-return], Scott Laughton [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-move-out-scott-laughton-trade-him-to-kings], and Bobby McMann [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-move-on-from-bobby-mcmann-trade-him-to-kraken] out, and in return, received five draft selections in 2026 and 2027: - 2026 conditional third-round pick - 2026 fourth-round pick - 2026 fifth-round pick - 2027 first-round pick - 2027 conditional second-round pick Following the Mar. 6 deadline, though, word came out that Matthew Knies' name was reportedly in trade talks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-rumor-roundup-which-players-are-most-likely-to-be-traded-before-the-nhl-trade-deadline]. It remains unknown how far anything went, but it was a surprise to many that his name had even surfaced, especially with the average age of the current Maple Leafs and how important Knies is to the future. "I didn't really look into it too much. I feel like, kind of, with this market, everyone's kind of almost a target," Knies said, days after the trade deadline [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/everyone-s-almost-a-target-maple-leafs-matthew-knies-reacts-to-name-being-in-trade-speculation]. "Yeah, it is what it is. It's a business. You earn the attention here. But I don't want to look into it too much, I guess." Since then, many have wondered which teams had targeted Knies. On Friday, nearly a month past the deadline, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/real-kypers-nhl-buzz-what-maple-leafs-are-considering-next/] that two teams suspected of being involved in trade talks with Toronto were the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks. "However, a big issue for teams suspected to have been involved in those talks," Kypreos continued, "was how late the possibility was raised. Toronto caught teams off guard with the idea, and some were unprepared to make a deal of that magnitude up against the deadline." Kypreos added, "One NHL team source told me the Maple Leafs' ask, under Treliving, was one of three options: 1. Two first-round picks and a high-end prospect. 2. One first-round pick and two high-end prospects. 3. Three high-end prospects." That'd be a pretty massive haul for a player of Knies' stature [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/matthew-knies-impresses-with-shorthanded-goal-in-maple-leafs-victory-over-bruins]. But he's a 23-year-old power forward who now has 21 goals and 60 points in 73 games, and is also locked up until 2031 — wouldn't you want to keep him on your team? Either way, Kypreos continues to say, whoever replaces Treliving will need to have a plan to move forward with the Knies situation. If the Maple Leafs want to retool, Knies should remain with Toronto. However, if the team wants to do a full rebuild, well, that could be a different conversation.
