Player Discussion Matthew Knies | Built for the Playoffs

[Hellcat]

Thought process seems to be, McKenna/Cowan slot in as the top 2 LW, we have a surplus of wingers and Knies has extremely high value and would net the biggest return.

Like hypothetically, if Werenski had 1 year left and he's eligible for an extension, I would absolutely be trying to trade for him, even if it meant Knies going the other way.

But that's the kind of player I would target, don't settle for anything less. We look like we're ok on goaltending and scoring forwards, we have not had a true 1D since as long as I can remember.


Is a player like that even available though ? I don't know.

Knies is a elite, top line power forward, on an insane contract. His contract is only going to be 6% of the cap for the 2027-2028 season.

I'm with you, questions need to be asked. This team literally does not need another top end LW. McKenna is the future 1st line LW, JT at his age is probably better suited for LW, are you going to play him at LW2 or LW3? If he still has game left you play him at LW2, if not he slots at LW3. Where does Knies fit in if it's McKenna 1 and Tavares 2? Can Cowan play C2 or is he LW3?

 

[Action Jackson]

I'm with you, questions need to be asked. This team literally does not need another top end LW. McKenna is the future 1st line LW, JT at his age is probably better suited for LW, are you going to play him at LW2 or LW3? If he still has game left you play him at LW2, if not he slots at LW3. Where does Knies fit in if it's McKenna 1 and Tavares 2? Can Cowan play C2 or is he LW3?

Tavares is staying at 2C because our centre depth sucks ass.

Where are you conjuring our 2C centre replacement?

 

[kevsh]

Where does Knies fit in if it's McKenna 1 and Tavares 2? Can Cowan play C2 or is he LW3?

If McKenna is LW1, Knies is LW2 and the aging, increasingly ineffective Tavares gets put wherever there's a need, which right now and likely for the forseeable future is 2C.

And if the feeling is McKenna/Cowan is a solid LW1/2 setup, it's not as good as McKenna/Knies. Maybe cheaper in the short term but clearly not as good.

And as it stands Matthews already needs a RW. Moving Knies means he needs a LW toom all before next season? Unless Chayka believes McKenna jumps into the LW spot almost on day one, which would be highly presumptuous.

 

[thewave]

Tavares is staying at 2C because our centre depth sucks ass.

Where are you conjuring our 2C centre replacement?

It's the 2026 Leafs. We make up feel good stories from decisions made from out of left field. The Leafs want to to tick all the boxes, do it fresh and new with a president that has goofy glasses.

 

[PromisedLand]

 

[thewave]

This is such a goofy thing to say. They are becoming frustrated lol, they can just call them and ask what it would take. Like they can do that any time.

 

[Gallagbi]

So the risk is teams won't be interested in a player that's not available?

 

[Sypher04]

We’re more than allowed to explore the value of our players even if we’re unlikely to move them. If other teams have a problem with that they can pound sand.

 

[Tak7]

Nothing wrong with inquiring about the value of Knies on the market.

But this whole thing makes me super uneasy - I'm a fan of this guy, and want him here long term.

 

[Leafs87]

Last year was weird for Knies. Looked like he was skating in quicksand. Not sure if that’s the Berube effect or if Leafs wanna pounce on an insane value. I’d do the top D, 1st plus without even an ounce of hesitation which makes me feel it’s bs.

Take a page from Nashville with Jeannot. Big skilled players get a premium.

 

[IrishInOntario]

If Matthew Knies is moved for anything other than a prime top 6 centerman (someone like Robert Thomas) or a surefire, young, top pairing defenseman (Denton Mateychuk or Thomas Harley for example), John Chayka is an absolute moron.

You do not trade a proven, cost controlled, locked up unicorn type player for friggen futures and prospects that are the equivalent of lottery tickets. Unless a team is willing to lose the trade rather badly in a package scenario, or send an equivalent talent in the form of a center or defenseman back, you hang up the phone.

 

[Antropovsky]

This is such a goofy thing to say. They are becoming frustrated lol, they can just call them and ask what it would take. Like they can do that any time.

It truly makes no sense. Call Chayka and ask. Make your best offer.

Or is it the GMs who "don't want to do business" with slimeball Chayka? They don't want to pick up the phone and find out, but they also don't want to miss out on Knies? Sounds like quite the ethical dilemma. So they sent Dreger to do their dirty work.

Lol.

 

[Gabriel426]

I'd do it for the #4 and Rinzel. I doubt Chicago gives up Levshunov this soon. Rinzel would become arguably our top D prospect ahead of Danford. If they then drafted Carson Carels (or another highly touted D) at #4 on top of that, we'd have a really solid trifecta of young D-men in the pipeline and suddenly not so grim.

Or, if Stenberg were available, we could get a top forward prospect to go with a promising D-prospect in Rinzel.

Hawks is not trading the 4OA if Stenberg is still available, which looking more and more likely.

 

[Action Jackson]

Hawks is not trading the 4OA if Stenberg is still available, which looking more and more likely.

I think the sharks trading for kesselring makes it even more obvious the sharks are drafting Stenberg