The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an evaluation mode after a disappointing campaign that led to sweeping changes throughout the organization. With a new front office in place and roster decisions under review, several moves made by the previous regime have come back under the spotlight.
One of those involved Matthew Knies and a trade that nearly sent him to a division rival. As more details continue to emerge, some around the league believe Toronto may have benefited from the deal falling apart.
Chris Pronger Explains Why Keeping Matthew Knies Could Be the Better Outcome for Maple Leafs
Knies became one of the biggest talking points of the offseason after reports revealed that the Maple Leafs had agreed to a significant trade with the Montreal Canadiens before the March deadline. The deal ultimately collapsed because the paperwork was submitted after the league cutoff, preventing Toronto from completing the transaction.
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Chris Pronger questioned whether moving Knies would have been the right decision in the first place.
While acknowledging that Toronto has difficult choices ahead, Pronger stressed that the organization must carefully evaluate the value it would be giving up before parting with a young player signed to a long-term contract.
Pronger pointed to the timing of the discussions as a key factor. He noted that Knies was coming off a season in which much of the roster struggled and argued that teams should avoid evaluating players solely through the lens of a down year.
“They all had down years,” Pronger said. “So you’re selling near the bottom for a number of these players. You have to really look at what value you’re getting, and then ask whether it makes sense.”
His biggest concern centered on whether the return would truly justify moving a player who remains under team control through the 2030-31 season.
Pronger emphasized that Knies is on what he considers a favorable contract in today’s market and questioned why Toronto would trade him unless it received overwhelming value in return. “Why would you get rid of that player if you’re not getting a king’s ransom?” Pronger asked.
This perspective becomes more relevant when examining Knies’ situation. Despite battling a lingering knee issue throughout much of the season, the 23-year-old still produced career-best offensive numbers with 23 goals, 43 assists, and 66 points in 79 games.
While his defensive metrics declined and his minus-30 rating drew criticism, he remained one of Toronto’s more productive forwards on a roster that struggled across the board.
The reported trade package also highlights how highly other organizations view him. The proposed deal would have brought Toronto top prospect Alexander Zharovsky, another prospect, and two first-round picks. This type of return reflects Knies’ value as a young power forward with top-six upside and cost certainty for years to come.
For the Maple Leafs’ new leadership group, the failed trade now creates an interesting decision. General manager John Chayka has inherited a roster that remains under evaluation, but he also inherits a player whose market value appears substantial across the league.
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Pronger’s comments suggest that patience may be the smarter approach. If Toronto still believes Knies can develop beyond what he showed while playing through injury, the missed deadline may have preserved an asset who could become even more valuable moving forward.
Rather than viewing the failed trade as a lost opportunity, the organization may eventually see it as a fortunate escape.
Had Toronto traded Knies at the deadline, they likely wouldn’t have landed the #1 overall pick and would’ve had to send their 2026 first-round pick to the Boston Bruins. When all is said and done, Chayka may have lucked out with the trade that never was.
