Why Matthew Knies Name Keeps Rising to the Top

James Mirtle joined JD Bunkis to lay out why Matthew Knies being dangled at the deadline wasn’t just noise and why he might actually be the Leafs’ clearest lever to land a top-flight defenceman. Even if moving him isn’t high on John Chayka’s to-do list, could it happen?

Mirtle’s main point: the deadline showed Toronto exactly how much value Knies holds. Teams were ready to pay with high picks and NHL-ready prospects. So, even if the front office that did the shopping around is mostly gone, that market signal didn’t disappear.

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Knies Is a Valuable Part of the Maple Leafs Roster

Knies is one of the youngest meaningful pieces on the roster, and the packages floated included picks and prospects who could step into the NHL next year or the year after. That’s precisely the kind of haul a club would want if it’s trying to get younger fast.

At the same time, Mirtle stresses Chayka’s priorities. He needs to land a true #1 defenceman. That’s at the top of the list. If there’s a D-man out there who fits the right age and upside window, trading Knies might be the only realistic way to get him without gutting the team.

That doesn’t mean the team is eager to ship Knies. That’s far from the point. Moving him would be a nuclear move, essentially resetting the timetable by a couple of years, and you’d have to be bringing back an elite, established blueliner to justify that. Otherwise, you’re just handing away one of your best young forwards for projects or picks and pretending it’s a retool.

If the Maple Leafs Do Move Knies, It Weakens Their Forward Depth

Mirtle also pushed back on the idea that Toronto’s forward depth means they can easily spare Knies. The roster still has holes after last season. As Bunkis noted, they were one of hockey’s worst teams. And you can’t just trade a top young piece for a high pick and expect immediate improvement.

Any deal involving Knies would need to be clearly identity-shifting: you trade him only if you’re getting back a difference-maker on the left side of the defence who accelerates your window. Otherwise, keep him and keep building around your core.

Knies Name Is Out There, But Moving Him Isn’t Likely

The bottom line from Mirtle is that Knies’ name being on the table proved his market value, and that makes him the logical — if unlikely — chip to pry loose an impact defenceman. It’s not the default plan, but if Chayka’s top priority is a true #1 D, Knies might be the only realistic price that gets that deal done.

Related: A Skill the Maple Leafs Can’t Keep Ignoring in Big Games