The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the offseason after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, giving new general manager John Chayka plenty to think about. As he evaluated the roster, several key players became the subject of trade speculation, including 23-year-old power forward Matthew Knies.
The New York Rangers, who were also in the middle of reshaping their roster, reportedly showed serious interest in Knies. However, a new report explains why they ultimately couldn’t get a deal done.
Rangers’ Failed Pursuit of Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies Explained
On paper, Matthew Knies was exactly the type of player Rangers GM Chris Drury would want to bring to New York.
Knies is a rare modern NHL power forward. At 6-foot-3, he combines size, skill, and a strong two-way game. He aggressively hunts for pucks and has elite touch around the net. He was also coming off a career-high season with 66 points in 79 games and is just entering his prime.
According to early offseason reports, the potential trade centered around a major one-for-one swap involving Knies and Vincent Trocheck.
The Rangers wanted to get younger and add size and scoring to their top six. Toronto, meanwhile, needed more stability down the middle and could viewed Trocheck as a proven two-way center capable of providing strong defensive play and veteran leadership.
However, according to NHL insider Vincent Mercogliano, the Rangers ultimately couldn’t afford the price Toronto was seeking. “New York had Toronto’s Matthew Knies on its radar earlier this offseason, but that would require a price tag Drury almost surely couldn’t afford. League chatter seems to have quieted on that front,” Mercogliano said.
The biggest issue was the difference in value between the two players.
Knies is only 23 years old and signed a team-friendly six-year contract worth $7.75 million a year last summer. Because Toronto has him locked up through his prime, the Maple Leafs placed a very high value on him.
As a result, a straight swap for the 33-year-old Trocheck was never going to be enough. The Rangers would have needed to add significant assets, potentially including a high pick and a top young player or prospect.
That was where the deal became too expensive for New York.
Drury is trying to retool the Rangers, not completely tear the roster down. Giving up multiple high-end prospects and premium draft picks for Knies would have weakened the organization’s future depth at a time when the team is trying to build a new core.
Trocheck was eventually traded to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for defenseman Sean Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third-round pick.
The trade rumors are effectively dead. Chayka has reportedly reassured Knies that he isn’t being actively shopped, and management views him as a cornerstone.
The Rangers’ interest made sense, but Toronto’s asking price for a young top-six forward under contract through his prime was simply too high.
