Earlier this week after the Toronto Maple Leafs made an interesting trade with the Philadelphia Flyers, I noted that Darren Dreger floated that “teams are doing their due diligence” on forward Matthew Knies, who has been someone of interest for the Chicago Blackhawks for… four years.
On Wednesday, the smoke around Knies intensified.
In an appearance on TSN 690 in Montreal on Wednesday, Pierre LeBrun talked about the talk around Knies. There was a rumored deal that fell thru at the last minute between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs that allegedly had Knies going to Montreal, which is where the conversation started. LeBrun said the Leafs aren’t specifically shopping Knies, but they’re in the process of gauging which of their existing assets have the most potential trade value in this market and Knies has come up in multiple conversations.
Dreger was back on the case on “That’s Hockey” on Wednesday. He reported “there are a number of NHL executives out there who believe that Matthew Knies will be traded.” He also said the Maple Leafs “absolutely covet Darren Raddysh and they’re trying to create the cap space to make sure that they are a big time player, again, if he gets to July 1.”
Which is also interesting.
We also got a theoretical trade package proposed for Knies from Nick Kypreos on Sportsnet 590 in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon:
"Possibly a top-pair D, a first-rounder, and a secondary player… If they move [Matthew Knies] in the next few days, it'll be to get back into the draft." @RealKyper, @jtbourne and @SamAMcKee discuss what it would take for the Leafs to part with Matthew Knies. pic.twitter.com/s1SXCnbNgu
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) June 17, 2026“Possibly a top-pair D, a first-rounder, and a secondary player… If they move [Matthew Knies] in the next few days, it’ll be to get back into the draft.”
So…
The Blackhawks could easily include a first-round pick in 2027 (they currently own three) and a “secondary player.” The catch would be that first element mentioned by Kypreos.
The Blackhawks probably don’t have an established “top-pair D” guy who would move the needle for the Maple Leafs. But… would the potential of drafting one of Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, Carson Carels or Alberts Šmits at No. 4 overall check that box?
And would the Blackhawks move out of the No. 4 overall pick to get Knies — something we’ve already discussed here. The 23-year-old forward is signed through 2031 at a reasonable $7.75M cap hit — he projects as an ideal target for what the Blackhawks want to do this summer.
If Ivar Stenberg is off the board when the Blackhawks are on the clock, and if new Toronto GM John Chayka wants to make a splash to begin his tenure (as many insiders are openly saying he is trying to do), there might be a fascinating fit for a deal.
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