Blockbuster Trade Proposed for Devils to Acquire Matthew Knies

Saturday, March 28, 2026 ,
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies fights New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier during 2026 game.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now raised an interesting possibility this week.

The New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs each had disappointing seasons, each missed the playoffs, and each have a piece the other genuinely needs. 

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported before the March 6 deadline that the Devils were among a handful of teams with "serious interest" in Toronto winger Matthew Knies. 

He stayed put at the deadline, but that doesn't mean the conversation is over. With both front offices facing some pretty significant offseason decisions, Nichols thinks they could be perfect trade partners this summer.

Matthew Knies Trade Value: Why the Devils Want Him and What He Brings

Knies is 23 years old, physical, he plays in all situations, brings legitimate net-front presence, and he has already proven he can hold his own in playoff hockey. 

In his second full NHL season, he posted 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games, adding five goals in 13 playoff games. 

This year, he's been dealing with a nagging knee injury but still eclipsed last year's mark with 20 goals and 39 assists in eight fewer games. 

The Devils' appeal here is that Knies could slide in alongside Jack Hughes the same way he's played alongside Auston Matthews in Toronto, giving New Jersey a complementary top-six winger who can drive play and win the dirty battles that create space for their star center. 

They've been looking for exactly that kind of player for a while now.

The Trade Packages: Nemec, Mercer, and What Toronto Actually Needs

The return is where it gets complicated. 

Nichols suggested Simon Nemec as the centerpiece of any Devils offer. Nemec is 22, was the second overall pick in 2022, and has posted 10 goals and 25 points in third-pair minutes this season. He's a right-shot defenseman with legitimate top-four upside who would immediately move up Toronto's depth chart. 

The counterargument from the Leafs' side is that Nemec, while promising, hasn't done enough yet to headline a return for a player like Knies. 

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News considers Knies an untouchable, and James Mirtle of The Athletic has said Toronto shouldn't move him unless the return is an elite first-line center or a top-pairing defenseman with a track record. 

Nemec has the ceiling, but not yet the resume. The alternative package Nichols floated is Dawson Mercer, prospect defenseman Seamus Casey, and the Devils' 2026 first-round pick. 

That gives Toronto more draft capital and depth flexibility, but a lower immediate defensive ceiling. 

Don't expect Dougie Hamilton to be part of any of this. The real question hanging over the whole thing is whether Brad Treliving is even still the GM in Toronto when the summer arrives. 

If he's gone, all bets are off on what direction the Leafs take with Knies and everybody else.

Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

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