Dissecting Suggested Big 3-Team Trade: Knies, Robertson, and the No. 2 Pick

The Jason Robertson saga has spawned plenty of trade ideas, but one coming out of Dallas from a former NHL player-turned analyst might be the most creative yet.

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Craig Ludwig, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and analyst for DLLS covering the Dallas Stars, floated a three-team blockbuster on a recent podcast involving Dallas, San Jose, and Toronto. The framework: Robertson goes to the Sharks for the second overall pick, which is flipped to the Maple Leafs for Matthew Knies.

Ludwig acknowledges it’s an off-the-wall idea that probably won’t happen — but it’s hard to stop thinking about once you hear it.

Trying to Wrap Our Heads Around Such a Blockbuster

For San Jose, the fit is obvious. Then again, it’s a big ask when you look at the fact that Robertson has turned down what might be as many as three offers to join a team and make close to $15 million per season.

The Sharks have over $46 million in cap space and took a massive step forward last season, finishing just four points out of a playoff spot. They’ll have to save some money for good young players, but Robertson — 213 goals and 290 points in 456 career games — alongside Macklin Celebrini would be a compelling long-term pairing.

For Dallas, Robertson appears increasingly likely to move given the Stars have just $9.26 million in cap space remaining. Knies gives them an excellent replacement option that offers physicality and grit. He comes in at a much lower price tag that Robertson will and it gives them flexibility to do other things. With Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, and Roope Hintz still in the fold, the Stars wouldn’t miss a beat offensively. They’d also not have to worry about upsetting the natural internal salary cap they have going. Knies would come in under their top players.

For Toronto, the second overall pick would theoretically allow them to draft Ivar Stenberg while keeping Gavin McKenna at first overall — essentially landing both top prospects. Imagine the idea of GM John Chayka selecting No. 1 and No. 2 in this year’s draft? Talk about a statement.

It would be tempting, but the counterargument is straightforward: the Maple Leafs already know what they have in Knies, and that’s worth a lot.

The consensus is that Toronto shouldn’t pull the trigger unless they are absolutely in love with Stenberg as a draft selection. Chayka could go out and sign wingers to lessen the loss of Knies, and perhaps the sum of the parts is the greater win. Still, Knies brings passion, edge, and upside that’s hard to replace, and adding two rookies to the lineup while removing him creates real risk for a team trying to compete now.

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