Report: Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies Named Prime Trade Candidate

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some big decisions to make with their roster this offseason, as freshly minted general manager John Chayka is looking to overhaul his talent.

The Leafs have a ton trade options, including four goalies, they have the number-one pick coming next month, and they also have one of the best young power forwards in Matthew Knies, who is drawing a ton of trade interest from other teams.

The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun recently named Knies a prime trade candidate for this offseason, and after Brad Treliving was listening to trade offers ahead of March's deadline, it sounds like that's not off the table for Chayka as the Leafs head into the NHL Draft in Buffalo in a few weeks.

A young power forward with an ideal blend of size and skill who is signed until his late 20s, Knies is the kind of player NHL teams rarely, if ever, trade. That’s partly why the Maple Leafs considered it ahead of the March trade deadline. They felt he could bring back a bonanza of assets to reboot a program short on prospects and draft picks. There’s since been a change in management in Toronto, with John Chayka replacing Brad Treliving, but Chayka has told other teams that his only roster untouchable is Auston Matthews. That leaves the door open for those who showed interest in Knies previously to try again.

Knies earns $7.75 million AAV through the 2031 season, and doesn't hold any trade protection until the 2030 season. This past year, playing mostly on the top line with Auston Matthews, Knies recorded 23 goals and 66 points in 79 games, and was one of Toronto's most consistent forwards.

At just 23 years old, Chayka needs to make sure he doesn't miss if he does deal Knies, because frankly, it doesn't make a ton of sense to move a young roster player with this type of talent, if you're trying to reshape your roster. Moving Knies could also piss off Auston Matthews, so this is certainly a sticky situation to keep an eye on throughout the next few weeks.

Here is how William Nylander and Matthew Knies reacted to the Leafs winning the draft lottery

🎥: William Nylander | YouTube pic.twitter.com/nRyD7NQDk2
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) May 25, 2026