The revelation that Matthew Knies was just one minute away from becoming a member of the Montreal Canadiens has left fans in both cities stunned.
According to insiders Elliotte Friedman and David Pagnotta, Toronto and Montreal had the framework in place for a blockbuster trade right at the deadline. However, the paperwork arrived at the NHL’s central registry at 3:01 p.m. ET, just 60 seconds after the cutoff, causing the deal to be voided.
While Canadiens fans may wonder if the trade could be revisited this summer, insiders believe that possibility has largely disappeared.
Canadiens Missed Their Window on Maple Leafs Winger Matthew Knies
The original deal was negotiated by former Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving, but after Toronto’s disappointing finish and first missed playoff appearance in a decade, Treliving was dismissed and replaced by John Chayka.
That front-office change appears to have altered everything. A new general manager isn’t tied to the plans of his predecessor, and Chayka reportedly doesn’t share the same motivations that drove Toronto’s trade discussions in March.
NHL insider Chris Johnston noted that while serious discussions took place, the circumstances that led Toronto to consider moving Knies no longer exist.
At the time, the Leafs were looking to replenish their prospect pool and draft capital after being resigned to missing the playoffs. Since then, the organization has won the draft lottery and secured the No. 1 overall pick, and entered a new era under different leadership.
Because of those changes, Johnston suggests the opportunity may have already passed, comparing it to a previous reported deal between the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks that would have brought Marc-Andre Fleury and Brandon Hagel to Toronto, a trade that ultimately never happened (one that, interestingly, would have also included Knies).
“A little bit of the same vibe here in the sense that the time for that deal might have already passed, if you know what I’m saying. I don’t know how significant the changes have been in the Leafs front office. I’m not sure we’re going to see that one revived in any way, shape, or form. But we’ll just have to see how things go,” Johnston said.
Even if Chayka eventually decides to listen to offers, Montreal would no longer have the market to itself.
Knies remains one of the league’s most attractive young forwards. The 6-foot-3 winger combines size, speed, and top-six offensive upside, and he’s signed through 2030-31 with a manageable $7.75 million cap hit.
While his minus-30 rating during Toronto’s late-season collapse drew criticism, many evaluators view that as more reflective of the team’s struggles than his individual play.
ALSO READ: ‘Don’t Want To Frame This as an Anti-Canada Thing’: Canadiens’ Hopes of Dylan Larkin Trade Dashed
If Toronto ever puts him back on the market, several teams would likely jump into the bidding. And unlike Montreal’s deadline offer, which was centered around prospects and draft picks, other clubs could potentially present packages featuring established NHL players ready to help immediately.
That reality may be the biggest reason Canadiens fans shouldn’t expect a second shot at Knies anytime soon. What was once a near-completed trade now looks more like one of the NHL’s great “what-if” stories.
