Matthew Knies nominated for the Hobey Baker Award

[ULF_55]

One of the hardest players to draft is a Knies type and they’re usually not traded for good reason. The leafs biggest need is cap space and a PWF. Knies will be on a ELC for likely a playoff run plus 2 additional full seasons. I see very little reason to move him.

It would have to be a good deal, but he isn't untouchable.

 

[cupcrazyman2]

Awesome. Likely not the winner but a great nomination.

Leafs would be wise to not trade him

I am not a fan of trading our 1st but it's better to hang on to the prospect you know,than the potential player(1st Rounder)you don't know.

 

[francis246]

It would have to be a good deal, but he isn't untouchable.

Agreed, there’s players he could be traded for, like for example (long shot) if Minnesota called and said we would move Boldy for him, I think you gotta consider that.

 

[kb]

It would have to be a good deal, but he isn't untouchable.

He's not untouchable, but the Leafs have more assets than just Knies. Most teams never give up their best prospect as the first choice. Even with all the big deals (Karlsson, Eichel, etc) the acquiring team's top prospect was rarely moved.

He'd be the last piece piece I would part with. I'm more tempted to move Niemela with the way Timmins has played so far. Yes, he's made his share mistakes, but he's got size and a great first pass. He's only missing game experience at the pro level, but he's well ahead of Niemela on that front.

Starting with a base of 1st, Niemela, Robertson/Minten should be able to get a lot of deals done. Knies and Grebyonkin are looking good for the future of LW.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

It's time for this team to think like a grasshopper, not an ant.

This isn't a retirement fund. I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future. I spend hundreds of dollars every year because I want to see them win now.

Right now.

 

[Mess]

It would have to be a good deal, but he isn't untouchable.

If Dubas inquires about Timo Meier or Patrick Kane or Jacob Chychrun or Travis Konecny etc the opposing GM starts his response with "fine, lets start with your 1st in 2023 and Matthew Knies and go from there". Those are the Leafs 2 clearly best trade chips not currently on the team impacting this years results.

Dubas is on an expiring contract that ends this summer.

So does Matthew Knies or the player acquired in trade for him, give the GM the best opportunity for playoff success this year & a contract extension for himself ?

That is really what you can narrow this down to.

If Dubas in back with the Soo next year he could care less if Matthew Knies is with the Leafs, Sharks, Hawks, Coyotes or Flyers.

 

[kb]

It's time for this team to think like a grasshopper, not an ant.

This isn't a retirement fund. I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future. I spend hundreds of dollars every year because I want to see them win now.

Right now.

How about the other 31 teams? They may have a say in that regardless of who they trade, or who they get back.

I am so glad we have a GM who does not think like this - it's how to guarantee a losing team long term.

MLSE thanks you for your donations.

 

[Mess]

Kyle Dubas last year trade deadline. (Straight from the horses mouth so to speak) .

Toronto Maple Leafs Will Make a Trade Soon​

As alluded to earlier, Kyle Dubas told the media that he’s going to make a trade now.

Within his press conference, he always mentioned that he’d like a top-six forward and what the Leafs would be willing to give up in a trade:



This quote shouldn’t shock anyone. Whenever someone makes a mid-season trade, prospects and draft picks are usually going the other way. As a result, the Leafs would have to part ways with a top prospect in order to acquire an impact player.

So what has changed from last year to this year ?

 

[Racer88]

I am not a fan of trading our 1st but it's better to hang on to the prospect you know,than the potential player(1st Rounder)you don't know.

However if you continually hang on to prospects you know and trade away your firsts, sooner or later you won’t have any prospects to get to know

 

[AlienWorkShop]

Kyle Dubas last year trade deadline. (Straight from the horses mouth so to speak) .

Toronto Maple Leafs Will Make a Trade Soon​

As alluded to earlier, Kyle Dubas told the media that he’s going to make a trade now.

Within his press conference, he always mentioned that he’d like a top-six forward and what the Leafs would be willing to give up in a trade:



This quote shouldn’t shock anyone. Whenever someone makes a mid-season trade, prospects and draft picks are usually going the other way. As a result, the Leafs would have to part ways with a top prospect in order to acquire an impact player.

So what has changed from last year to this year ?

That tweet is from two years ago, you silly goose.

 

[Leafs87]

I am not a fan of trading our 1st but it's better to hang on to the prospect you know,than the potential player(1st Rounder)you don't know.

I wouldn’t trade either this year. I’d go for lower end adds. A bottom 4 physical D man. A top 9 forward with some grit and sign Knies.

Reevaluate in the summer and load up next year. This year there are way too many holes. On top of that they’re pretty tight against the cap whereas next year there will be some flexibility. Any deal now they have to over pay cause it’s TDL and they have to overpay for cap retention. This year needs sort of an overhaul on the bottom 6. That won’t be possible at the TDL

 

[Hellcat]

He's not untouchable, but the Leafs have more assets than just Knies. Most teams never give up their best prospect as the first choice. Even with all the big deals (Karlsson, Eichel, etc) the acquiring team's top prospect was rarely moved.

He'd be the last piece piece I would part with. I'm more tempted to move Niemela with the way Timmins has played so far. Yes, he's made his share mistakes, but he's got size and a great first pass. He's only missing game experience at the pro level, but he's well ahead of Niemela on that front.

Starting with a base of 1st, Niemela, Robertson/Minten should be able to get a lot of deals done. Knies and Grebyonkin are looking good for the future of LW.

There are a couple that I would put in the not untouchable but you better give me something great in return category.

Knies, Niemela are my two close to untouchables. Either one of those guys I'd be pretty pissed. There are bunch that would be just a tier lower that are pretty good that I'd rather slip into a trade. Maybe there is a GM out there that wants a whole bunch of good vs a few really good players. Volume over quality?

 

[Mess]

That tweet is from two years ago, you silly goose.

There's one mistake that Kyle Dubas cannot afford to make at this year's deadline​

FEB 3, 2023

Everyone knows that this is a very important year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but for Kyle Dubas, what he does at this year's deadline may decide his future as the team's GM. Dubas is in the final year of a 5-year deal and does not currently have an extension in place.

This year's trade deadline is arguably the most important one of Dubas' career to date. In years past, the young GM has been hesitant to part with substantial picks and prospects, or going "all-in", as he didn't see the value of mortgaging the team's long-term future for a slim chance to win while his team was still on the upswing. Now, with Auston Matthews and William Nylander coming to the end of their current deals, the time may have finally come to push the chips in and hope for the best possible outcome.

The mistake that Dubas and the Leafs simply can't afford to make this year would be to only make fringe adds and carry largely the same roster they have now into the playoffs. We've seen this team exposed on a number of occasions this year by inferior opponents. We saw Tampa basically empty the cupboards, dealing a lot of their top prospects and a lot of their high picks and reaping the benefits. Well, suffice it to say, the Leafs are not all that dissimilar from the Lightning in that they have several bona-fide superstars who can absolutely take over a game. Now what they need is the proper pieces to come in and properly augment the current group.

The idea that Matthew Knies is an untouchable is a bit of a reach. A prospect can be an exciting piece coming up, there's no argument there. However, until they reach the NHL and begin to produce, they're just a prospect and every prospect is a bit of a gamble as well. There's just as good of a chance that Knies comes in and ends up being more of a bottom six guy, playing limited minutes every night than there is that he comes in and can have an impact in the top six. If you can turn what essentially amounts to a lottery ticket into a proven asset with a good amount of playoff experience, doesn't that improve your odds of winning? And if the goal is to win a Stanley Cup, should we really be so focused on retaining all of these picks and prospects when the time to win is now?

Full story: There's one mistake that Kyle Dubas cannot afford to make at this year's deadline

 

[Menzinger]

There's one mistake that Kyle Dubas cannot afford to make at this year's deadline​

FEB 3, 2023

Everyone knows that this is a very important year for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but for Kyle Dubas, what he does at this year's deadline may decide his future as the team's GM. Dubas is in the final year of a 5-year deal and does not currently have an extension in place.

This year's trade deadline is arguably the most important one of Dubas' career to date. In years past, the young GM has been hesitant to part with substantial picks and prospects, or going "all-in", as he didn't see the value of mortgaging the team's long-term future for a slim chance to win while his team was still on the upswing. Now, with Auston Matthews and William Nylander coming to the end of their current deals, the time may have finally come to push the chips in and hope for the best possible outcome.

The mistake that Dubas and the Leafs simply can't afford to make this year would be to only make fringe adds and carry largely the same roster they have now into the playoffs. We've seen this team exposed on a number of occasions this year by inferior opponents. We saw Tampa basically empty the cupboards, dealing a lot of their top prospects and a lot of their high picks and reaping the benefits. Well, suffice it to say, the Leafs are not all that dissimilar from the Lightning in that they have several bona-fide superstars who can absolutely take over a game. Now what they need is the proper pieces to come in and properly augment the current group.

The idea that Matthew Knies is an untouchable is a bit of a reach. A prospect can be an exciting piece coming up, there's no argument there. However, until they reach the NHL and begin to produce, they're just a prospect and every prospect is a bit of a gamble as well. There's just as good of a chance that Knies comes in and ends up being more of a bottom six guy, playing limited minutes every night than there is that he comes in and can have an impact in the top six. If you can turn what essentially amounts to a lottery ticket into a proven asset with a good amount of playoff experience, doesn't that improve your odds of winning? And if the goal is to win a Stanley Cup, should we really be so focused on retaining all of these picks and prospects when the time to win is now?

Full story: There's one mistake that Kyle Dubas cannot afford to make at this year's deadline

Worth noting, that article is just speculating, not actually reporting anything.

As a counter we also have the Leafs own past behavior - the front office could have traded Knies last year (they didn't). In the past could have traded the organizations top prospects at earlier times (Sandin, Lily, Robertson) and didn't. Seems a clear pattern....

 

[NinjaKick]

It's essentially the equivalent of the CHL Player of the year.

It's named after a guy who was generally seen as the first renowned US hockey star. He played during the early 1910s

Teeder Keon grew up around the same time. I wonder if they knew each other.

 

[Stephen]

Kyle Dubas last year trade deadline. (Straight from the horses mouth so to speak) .

Toronto Maple Leafs Will Make a Trade Soon​

As alluded to earlier, Kyle Dubas told the media that he’s going to make a trade now.

Within his press conference, he always mentioned that he’d like a top-six forward and what the Leafs would be willing to give up in a trade:



This quote shouldn’t shock anyone. Whenever someone makes a mid-season trade, prospects and draft picks are usually going the other way. As a result, the Leafs would have to part ways with a top prospect in order to acquire an impact player.

So what has changed from last year to this year ?

Don’t think we had a Knies level prospect in 2021.

 

[rojac]

It's time for this team to think like a grasshopper, not an ant.

This isn't a retirement fund. I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future. I spend hundreds of dollars every year because I want to see them win now.

Right now.

You're not investing in anything. You're buying products from a provider. You buy a ticket, you get to watch a hockey game. You buy a Leafs jersey, you get a piece of clothing, and so on. That's all.

It's no different from buying something from Amazon. That doesn't make you an investor in Amazon, does it?

 

[Fogelhund]

""

 

[Teeder Keon]

Teeder Keon grew up around the same time. I wonder if they knew each other.

Hilarious lololll
Here’s the stick I used

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

You're not investing in anything. You're buying products from a provider. You buy a ticket, you get to watch a hockey game. You buy a Leafs jersey, you get a piece of clothing, and so on. That's all.

It's no different from buying something from Amazon. That doesn't make you an investor in Amazon, does it?

That's why I said I wasn't investing.

Those were my exact words actually.

I thought I was pretty clear about the instant gratification aspect.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Kyle Dubas last year trade deadline. (Straight from the horses mouth so to speak) .

Toronto Maple Leafs Will Make a Trade Soon​

As alluded to earlier, Kyle Dubas told the media that he’s going to make a trade now.

Within his press conference, he always mentioned that he’d like a top-six forward and what the Leafs would be willing to give up in a trade:



This quote shouldn’t shock anyone. Whenever someone makes a mid-season trade, prospects and draft picks are usually going the other way. As a result, the Leafs would have to part ways with a top prospect in order to acquire an impact player.

So what has changed from last year to this year ?

All contenders are willing to trade prospects for the right deal.
That doesn't mean he's going to trade Knies specifically.
Knies wasn't even drafted yet at that point.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

How about the other 31 teams? They may have a say in that regardless of who they trade, or who they get back.

I am so glad we have a GM who does not think like this - it's how to guarantee a losing team long term.

MLSE thanks you for your donations.

What about the other 31 teams?

And Kyle Dubas does trade for rentals. Just look at what he traded the last two years and what he got in return. All UFA's. The only one remaining on the team is old man Giordano.

 

[rojac]

That's why I said I wasn't investing.

Those were my exact words actually.

You said:

This isn't a retirement fund. I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future. I spend hundreds of dollars every year because I want to see them win now.

To me, that read as "I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future; I'm investing for one today."

Sorry if I misinterpretted.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

You said:



To me, that read as "I'm not investing for a cup five years in the future; I'm investing for one today."

Sorry if I misinterpretted.

Read what you wrote again except slowly.

Investing for today would be....a purchase.

 

[rojac]

Read what you wrote again except slowly.

Investing for today would be....a purchase.

Fine, my point is that any money you spent on the Leafs, you've already got what you spent it on. The Leafs owe you nothing more. The fact that you bought a game ticket or a jersey or some silly piece of merchandise has very little connection with what the Leafs decide to do.