The Toronto Maple Leafs are dealing with a frustrating slide of eight straight losses since the Olympic break. The poor results on the ice have raised questions about the roster and the team’s future direction.
When a team struggles, outside interest in its players often grows around the NHL. That situation has now brought renewed attention to one young forward and the recent trade speculation surrounding him.
Matthew Knies Trade Talks: Frank Seravalli Confirms Deadline Conversations
The difficult season for the Toronto Maple Leafs has brought increased discussion about possible roster moves, and one unexpected player in those discussions was forward Matthew Knies. Although the 23-year-old stayed with Toronto through the March 6 trade deadline, insiders say teams asked about him during that period.
Knies is currently in the first season of a six-year, $46.5 million contract. The deal carries an average annual value of $7.75 million and runs through the 2030-31 season. Because the contract does not yet include trade protection, management still has flexibility if it ever decides to move forward.
During an appearance on the FAN Morning Show, NHL insider Frank Seravalli explained that conversations did take place before the deadline. He described the situation by saying, “Do I think there were conversations around Matthew Knies, yes.” Seravalli also noted he was “not entirely sold” that talks reached the point where the Leafs were ready to complete a trade.
General manager Brad Treliving still made a few moves before the deadline. Toronto traded Bobby McMann to the Seattle Kraken, Scott Laughton to the Los Angeles Kings, and Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche. Those deals helped the team add draft picks while reviewing its roster during a difficult year.
Even with the rumors, Knies continues to hold an important place in the lineup. Through 62 games this season, he has recorded 51 points with 16 goals and 35 assists. He has also delivered more than 120 hits while playing significant minutes on one of Toronto’s top lines.
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Knies spoke about the trade talk earlier this week when reporters asked him about the situation. He acknowledged that attention like this often comes with playing in Toronto.
“I didn’t really look into it too much. I feel like, with this market, everyone’s kind of almost a target,” Knies said on Monday. “It’s a business. You earn the attention here. But I don’t want to look into it too much, I guess.”
For now, Knies remains with Toronto as the season continues. Interest from other teams may return in the offseason if teams look for a young forward under a long-term contract.
