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Maple Leafs Floating Knies Trade Meant to Solve Two Big Needs

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Mar 15, 2026 10:46 AM ET

Because the Toronto Maple Leafs lacked many assets to trade at the deadline that would move the needle and land them quality players in return, the organization did what many thought was unthinkable—and floated Matthew Knies‘ name in the market. Ultimately, he wasn’t moved, and nothing got close — the Leafs instead chose to trade Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, and Scott Laughton.

But what were the Maple Leafs trying to get? Why risk losing one of your best young assets?

James Mirtle of The Athletic believes the team’s two biggest needs were potentially higher than keeping Knies on the roster.

The Maple Leafs Badly Need Blue Line and Center Help

He writes:

“The No. 1 priority for whoever is running the Leafs this summer is going to have to be fixing the team’s blue line, which has conceded scoring chances at an alarming rate this season. … it’s unmistakable, too, how old, slow and ineffective at moving the puck Toronto’s top six has been, even going back to last year.”

He also notes, “The other biggest need for improvement is going to be up front.”

Arguing that the defense is a mess, Oliver Ekman-Larsson signed another two seasons, and older players like Morgan Rielly, Chris Tanev, and Jake McCabe are all under contract until 2030, the future does not look bright. Injury concerns and production issues are both serious problems. At forward, John Tavares is older and “the fact that the Leafs dealt away all three of Roy, Laughton and Fraser Minten over the last 12 months, and they’re clearly going to need reinforcements down the middle.”

There aren’t a lot of options out there, writes Mirtle. Noting that free agency next season is looking bare and trades are harder to make, it was going to take dangling a player like Knies to get teams to perk up and pay attention.

And, because Auston Matthews and William Nylander have no-movement clauses, neither were going anywhere at the deadline.

Mirtle writes that either Knies or Easton Cowan could be used as trade bait, and that Knies was the player who drew attention this season.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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